Winter Olympics: Skiers Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins win first-ever U.S. gold medal in cross country

Americans Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins win gold
(Image credit: Christof Stache/AFP/Getty Images)

American skiers have not traditionally excelled at cross country events at the Olympics — it is called Nordic skiing for a reason — and in fact, only one American had medaled in cross country before Wednesday — Bill Koch, who took the silver at Innsbruck in 1976. But on Wednesday in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Americans Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won, and it was gold.

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Peter Weber, The Week US

Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.