gus schumacher anchors U.S. to silver in Olympic cross-country team sprint
TESERO, Italy — Gus Schumacher closed out a dramatic team sprint to secure a silver medal for the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics, teaming with Ben Ogden to push Norway all the way on Feb. 18, 2026 (ET). Their result gives U. S. men a second podium finish this week and marks the nation’s winningest Olympic performance in cross-country skiing.
How the race played out
The two-man relay featured two legs apiece, with Ben Ogden taking the early work and Schumacher anchoring. On the final climb Schumacher found himself shoulder-to-shoulder with Norwegian superstar Johannes Klæbo, who extended his historic run by winning the gold. Schumacher held tight to Klæbo’s pace, later describing his tactic simply: "Look at Klaebo's butt and just lock in and follow that to the finish line. " He finished roughly 1. 4 seconds behind Klæbo and was able to stave off Italy’s Federico Pellegrino for the silver.
Schumacher collapsed into the snow after crossing, and Ogden dropped to his knees to embrace his teammate. "We just proved today and all week that we're here to stay and that U. S. guys are in good form, " Ogden said, reflecting on a breakthrough stretch for American men’s skiing. Schumacher added a self-deprecating line about the nature of second place — "I'm going to be the guy that got beat" — then emphasized his pride in the result.
Context and significance for U. S. skiing
The medal completes a notable week for Ogden, who earlier won silver in the individual sprint on Feb. 10, 2026 (ET), becoming the first American man in 50 years to reach an Olympic cross-country podium. With the team sprint medal, Ogden becomes the most decorated American male cross-country skier in Olympic history.
For Schumacher, 25 and raised in Alaska, the finish represents his first Olympic medal and a milestone in a career that has included Junior World Championship gold and World Cup victories. "I think I did a good job of not thinking too, like, results-wise until, you know, I could see Ben on the other side there and knew I had space, " Schumacher said, describing how he tried to stay in the moment during the anchor leg. He credited the broader support network — coaches, wax techs, family — for making the achievement possible.
The U. S. men’s performance complements the long-running success of the U. S. women’s program led by Jessie Diggins, the nation’s most decorated cross-country skier. Diggins added a medal of her own at these Games and, with Julia Kern, finished fifth in the women's team sprint at the same venue. The Americans have now matched their best-ever medal haul in Olympic cross-country competition at this edition of the Games.
What comes next
Beyond the podium celebrations, the result offers momentum for U. S. programs on both coasts and in Alaska. Ogden noted the geographic split in the duo — he lives in Vermont while Schumacher hails from Alaska — and said he hopes the medal will inspire skiers across the country. "Everybody hopefully is gonna get fired up after seeing this because, you know, like, this week we proved that American skiers can do it just like anybody else, " Ogden said.
Norway’s continued dominance, led by Klæbo, remains a gauntlet for the rest of the field, but the Americans showed they can contest the sport’s premier names in head-to-head battles. With young talent rising and veterans still in the mix, the U. S. looks poised to be a factor in cross-country skiing for years to come.
