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.

Including this medal, Team USA has six golds and 14 total medals, putting it in 5th place overall, behind Norway, Germany, Canada, and the Netherlands.

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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.