OUT OF THE DROUGHT

Team USA made history when Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won gold in the women’s cross-country team sprint in the 2018 Winter Olympics. This was the first time that the women of Team USA had medaled in cross-country skiing. It was also the first time in 42 years that anyone from Team USA had medaled. The last time an American athlete medaled in cross-country skiing was when Bill Koch took the silver medal back in 1976. Anyway, Randall and Diggins got the gold when they beat Sweden by 0.19 seconds. Norway ended up with the bronze medal. Team USA was guaranteed a medal as Diggins was in third place towards the end of the final lap with the rest of the athletes a little ways behind her. As Sweden, Norway, and the USA rounded the corner to the final stretch, Norway started to fall behind. Both Diggins and Randall knew that just any medal was not enough and that they should go for gold. Thus, Diggins passed Norway and then pushed her hardest to just barely pass Sweden and take the gold. As soon as she crossed the finish line, Randall jumped on top her teammate to celebrate the historic win for Team USA.

Team USA is now fourth in the medal count with a total of 21 medals. This includes 8 gold, 7 silver, and 6 bronze. Norway is in the lead with 35, Germany has 25, and Canada is in third with 24. The last events will take place on Sunday, February 25 with the closing ceremony to follow.