Jessie Diggins claimed the FIS Cross Country World Cup overall title for the third time in her career, alongside the distance Crystal Globe by just two points, after a dominant 2024-25 season. It is her second year in a row winning both the overall and distance FIS Crystal Globes.

Diggins had seven podium finishes in the 2024-25 season—six of them victories, including her first ever classic race win in the 15k at the Tour de Ski. Despite battling a foot injury in the second half of the season, she remained at the top of the standings from start to finish, wearing the coveted yellow leader’s bib from the very first race weekend. This is Diggins' third time clinching the overall Crystal Globe; she is the only non-European to win the Globe in the sport's history.

“I think that this year, it was so joyful to be able to prove to myself that I could win the overall Crystal Globe in a place of being really happy and mentally healthy and in a strong and resilient body that could stay healthy all season,” Diggins reflected. “There was more joy in the process, and there was less stress overall!”

Diggins displayed grit and resilience throughout the season, overcoming plantar fasciitis and a partially torn ligament in her foot to continue competing, only missing a couple of races after the Tour de Ski. She finished third in the overall Tour de Ski standings. She capped off her season with another significant achievement: winning a World Championships silver medal in the skate sprint alongside teammate Julia Kern. It marked the second consecutive time the duo has reached the World Championship podium together and Diggins' seventh World Championships medal. 

Diggins’ career numbers further highlight her impact on the sport: 358 World Cup starts, 79 podiums and 29 victories. But for her, success has evolved beyond just statistics.

“When I was younger, it was hard to separate succeeding from succeeding on the results sheet. My self-worth was based on what number was next to my name,” she said. "Succeeding at something, to me, is going after it with your whole heart, doing it in a way that lifts up other people and means that you cross the finish line with nothing left. I want to always look back and go, ‘that was the best I could do and I left everything out there."

She also emphasized the significance of breaking new ground in her sport. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” Diggins explained. “Sometimes you need to see someone do it to believe that it’s possible. Hopefully, this creates more opportunity for those coming after me.”

Looking ahead to the next season—an Olympic year—Diggins will have to decide how to balance her World Cup ambitions with Olympic preparation. However, one thing remains clear: She continues to race because she loves the sport and the process of pushing herself to new limits.

“I’ve been very fortunate to achieve a lot of my big hopes and dreams, but I am still here doing this because I genuinely love it. I love finding out how tough, gritty and mentally strong I can be when things are tough. And that’s what keeps me coming back.”

As she celebrates another historic milestone, Diggins remains committed to her team and to inspiring the next generation of cross country skiers. A common theme among the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team is the importance of a supportive culture, which Diggins credits to her success, especially this season. "When one of us wins, we all win. It's not all about results; it's about being a team player and being part of something bigger than yourself."

And her advice for young athletes who dream to one day be like Diggins, on top of the world in her sport, is simple:

“Do it because you love it. This sport is so much hard work, and that’s what’s so fun about it. Find a team you truly love to be around, put a lot into that team, and love the process. At the end of the day, the process is all there is.”

The season wrapped with the 50k classic, Diggins was back in the top 10, finishing the day in ninth. Gus Schumacher led the way for the men, crossing the line and waving to the fans in seventh. 

RESULTS
50k 
Women
Men

Overall 
Women
Men

In a thrilling night sprint under the lights in Lahti, Finland, JC Schoonmaker delivered for the final individual sprint of the season, crossing the finish line in sixth. Schoonmaker's result made it another strong day for the Americans, with eight in the top 30 and four in the top 15. 

Schoonmaker led a strong contingent of American skiers as eight U.S. athletes advanced to the sprint heats—five men and three women. The men’s squad featured Schoonmaker, Gus Schumacher, Ben Ogden, Jack Young and Kevin Bolger, while Jessie Diggins, Julia Kern and Sammy Smith represented the women. Four Americans cracked the top 15, with Schumacher taking 12th, Kern 13th and Diggins 15th. Smith finished 25th, Ogden 19th, Bolger 20th and Young 30th.

"I feel proud of how I raced this season. It was the best preparation period for me before the season, so I’m happy to come out with some good racing, given the circumstances. I feel that I was able to learn a lot and gain more experience, which makes me extra motivated for next year."

"Today was variable, including the snow conditions. My body felt good, but my tactics didn’t go as planned. The times were really tight today, and the course was causing a lot of jam-ups and scrappy skiing. I’m proud I had a good start, and for trying to make moves out there and adjust my plan, but it wasn’t quite enough. Sprinting can be so fun but also requires a little luck. Today, I learn from my mistakes for next time." 

The night belonged to Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who claimed his 16th consecutive sprint victory and secured the FIS Sprint Crystal Globe. On the women’s side, Finland’s Jasmi Joensuu earned the sprint win in front of a home crowd. Ben Ogden and Jessie Diggins ended the season in seventh place overall in the sprint standings, capping off another strong year for U.S. cross country skiing.

“It was a really cool atmosphere today – the lights were super bright; the crowd was amazing and I am super grateful to everyone for the love. This was maybe the only race of the year where there was no pressure, no points – I was just going out there racing for me, because I love it, and because it was fun! And I did have a ton of fun out there."

Schoonmaker’s breakthrough performance in Lahti adds momentum to the U.S. team as the season winds down, with just two races left: the team sprint tomorrow, March 22, and the 50k classic on Sunday, March 23. 

RESULTS
WOMEN
MEN

For the first time since 2019, Julia Kern is back on the individual World Cup podium. Under the lights at the Tallinn City Sprint in Estonia, Kern powered her way to a long-awaited top-three finish. Ben Ogden was seventh, topping off a strong day for the Americans. 

The 2024-25 season has been significant for Kern, highlighted by her silver medal in the team sprint at the World Championships. But an individual podium had remained elusive—until now. With just four races left in the season, she delivered a gutsy performance on the fast-paced urban course in Tallinn. 

“A podium possibility is something I have been chasing the past five years ever since my first podium,” she said. “I never stopped believing that I had it in me, but there were definitely times when it felt far out of reach, like in Period 1 this season. Things with sprinting were really not clicking early season, which wasn’t so surprising given my injury-ridden fall. But I knew my fitness was there with strong distance races, so I worked really hard with the coaches and strength coach in the lead-up to World Champs to get my sprinting gears back.”

This result has been a long time coming for Kern, who has been chasing a return to the podium for five years. The journey hasn’t been easy, with injuries and early-season struggles testing her resilience. Period one of the season was challenging, with her sprinting not quite clicking, but she never lost belief.

Kern credited the wax technicians for their tireless support and expertise, especially given the unique conditions of the race, which featured limited course access and neutral waxing rules.

“The staff did an amazing job in ski testing and strategy today,” she said. “They were cheering so loud around the course that I had no option but to boost into another gear. I feel so grateful for their unwavering belief over the years, and especially this season where I was reminded to be patient, and that likely my form would catch up and come around at the end of the season.”

Kern had a strong season beyond sprinting, earning a career-best sixth place in the 20k skate in Falun, Sweden and finishing fifth in the individual sprint at World Championships. She and Jessie Diggins also took silver in the team sprint, marking Kern’s second career World Championships medal after their bronze in 2023. 

Other notable results of the day go to Ogden, who was seventh. Gus Schumacher, Jack Young and Sammy Smith also punched their tickets to the Tallinn City Sprint rounds and ended the day with a 16th by Schumacher, 19th by Young and Smith in 27th place. The women's podium of the day was topped by Switzerland's Nadine Faehnrich and Sweden's Maja Dahlqvist in second. For the men, Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo is back on top in first, with his teammate Harald Oestberg Amundsen in second and France's Jules Chappaz in third. 

Now, the team has made a quick turnaround to Lahti, Finland, for the final World Cup weekend of the season. Jessie Diggins enters the week with the FIS Cross Country FIS Overall Crystal Globe for the third time in her career; Diggins is the only non-European to win the Overall Crystal Globe in cross country World Cup history. 

RESULTS 
Women
Men

The legendary Holmenkollen World Cup delivered yet another day of exciting World Cup ski racing, with Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes Gus Schumacher and Jessie Diggins securing top-10 finishes in the 20k classic; Schumacher was seventh and Diggins 10th. This was the first race following the World Championships. With the season nearing its end, the Americans put together strong performances despite challenging conditions and the inevitable fatigue of a long race season.

Holmenkollen is one of the sport's most storied venues. It is typically home to the grueling 50k event, where tens of thousands of fans line the course, cheering deep into the woods for one of the most iconic races in skiing. But with this year’s 50k already contested at the World Championships, the Holmenkollen weekend featured two distance races instead—a 20k classic and a 10k skate—bringing a different energy to the event.

For Diggins, today’s race was another crucial step in her chase for the overall World Cup Crystal Globe. The Holmenkollen 20k classic marked another victory as classic skiing was a discipline she was unable to compete in earlier this season due to a foot injury. Seeing her back in the top 10 was an encouraging sign—not just for her confidence but for the team. With today’s result, she continues to lead the overall standings and heads into tomorrow’s 10k skate, her premiere event, with momentum.

"I am super proud of today," said Diggins. "It was a really great step in the right direction. My energy and body felt surprisingly okay after the 50k - of course, I don't feel as fresh as a daisy, but I am proud that I could push the entire race. I am also super proud of the wax techs. They had to predict how the kick would change when the snow broke - right around the middle of the race for me - it was getting quite a bit slower and slushier. But they could predict that, and I had a ton of kick and glide. I am incredibly grateful because it allowed me to ski with good technique and push it!"

On the men’s side, Schumacher executed a well-paced race on the demanding three-lap course, showcasing smart strategy and solid endurance from the young Alaskan. Just a week removed from an exhausting 50k at World Championships, he came into today’s event looking to rebound—and did just that. With a strong season so far, which included a recent second-place result in the Falun World Cup and a ninth-place result in the World Championships 20k skiathlon, Schumacher is becoming a podium threat in almost every race he enters and is shaking up the Scandinavian domination on the World Cup level. 

"The body feels pretty good post-world champs; I think the racing load was not crazy high - it was more emotional," said Schumacher. "I for sure am feeling tired after the 50k, but every day was feeling better than last week! I knew I was in a good spot (throughout the race), and I am proud of skiing relaxed in the early and middle parts. I focused on not getting too stressed and not getting frantic, and on the last lap, it was a bit hard, but it's super hard to nail an individual start 20k with pacing - but I am proud of how I raced it."

The ultimate winners of the day were Norwegian Martin Loewstroem Nyenget, who blasted the competition, crossing the line 51.2 seconds ahead of Sweden's William Paromaa. Simen Hegstad Krueger of Norway was third. Norwegian legend Therese Johaug took home another World Cup victory for the women, with teammate Astrid Oeyre Slind in second and Germany's Victoria Karl in third. For the U.S., Rosie Brennan was back in the top 20 in the 17th, Sydney Palmer-Leger in the 40th, and Sammy Smith in the 47th. For the men, Ben Ogden was just out of the top 30 in 33rd, Kevin Bolger in 36th, and Luke Jager in 59th. 

With Holmenkollen in the books after tomorrow, the World Cup season now heads into its final stretch with just two stops remaining: the city sprint in Tallinn, Estonia, and the World Cup Finals in Lahti, Finland. After months of racing, training, and travel—not to mention the emotional and physical toll of the World Championships—fatigue is setting in across the field. And for Diggins and Schumacher, today’s performances proved that they’re still fighting and still in the mix. With just a few races remaining, the U.S. squad will look to carry this momentum through the season's final push. 

Results
Women
Men

NOMINATIONS NOW OPEN!

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Awards

U.S. Ski & Snowboard is a diverse organization of many sports with a vital backbone of athletes, officials, coaches and clubs nationwide all working together for the betterment of the sport. It’s important each year to recognize the work of those behind the scenes who are providing athletes of all ages with an opportunity to participate in ski and snowboard competitions.

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard awards program is designed to recognize a wide range of individuals and organizations for their work over the past year. As a U.S. Ski & Snowboard member, you are eligible to nominate into many of the award categories. To learn more about the full range of U.S. Ski & Snowboard awards, go here.

Award Selection:

• Nominations are accepted all at once and at large from members who have a valid and current membership for the 2024-25 Season.
• Each sport committee will select the respective sports winners for Club and Coach of the Year.
• Selection of other awards winners is determined by a vote of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Awards Working Group.
• Winners are announced at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Awards Dinner on May 14, 2025.

Nominations: 

• Click on the nomination link for each individual award for which you wish to nominate.
• Complete the nomination paying special attention to highlighting accomplishments required for each award.
• Nominees must also be current members of U.S. Ski & Snowboard.
• Click to submit.
• Remember, you need to submit nominations for each award separately.

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT NOMINATIONS: Friday, March 28, 2025

NOMINATION CATEGORIES

Paul Bacon Award (event organization)

The Paul Bacon Award is given to an individual or group for the greatest contribution to U. S. Ski & Snowboard in the field of race organization during the 2024-25 season. Traditional nominees include local clubs or individuals whose work has made a difference in providing good events for athletes.

PAUL BACON AWARD Nomination Form

John J. Clair Award (service to national teams)

The John J. Clair Jr. Award is given for outstanding service that benefited the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team in 2024-25. Past recipients have included outside team support personnel, donors, journalists, movers and shakers. Most recipients have been individuals, though some organizations have been recognized. The recipient’s service should be to the national teams.

JOHN J. CLAIR JR. AWARD Nomination Form

Bud & Mary Little Award (service to FIS or USOPC)

The Bud & Mary Little Award is a lifetime achievement award presented to an individual who has contributed significantly through a long-term involvement with the International Ski & Snowboard Federation or U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Recipients are eligible to receive the award only once. Achievement should be lifetime; it is not specific to this past year.

BUD & MARY LITTLE AWARD Nomination Form

Buddy Werner Award (sportsmanship)

Have you seen any great acts of sportsmanship this past year? Nominations should be based on actions from the 2024-25 season. It is only open to individuals.

BUDDY WERNER AWARD Nomination Form

Russell Wilder Award (service to youth)

The Russell Wilder Award recognizes the most outstanding effort during 2024-25 in focusing the interests of American youth on the sports of skiing or snowboarding. It can be awarded to an individual or an organization.

RUSSELL WILDER AWARD Nomination Form

OFFICIALS NOMINATION AWARD CATEGORY

West Family Award (outstanding official)

The West Family Award is a lifetime achievement honor, recognizing an outstanding certified official at any level.  Nominations come from the pool of current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Officials membership.

WEST FAMILY AWARD Nomination Form

Nominations only open to those who hold a current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Officials membership. 

FIS TECHNICAL DELEGATE NOMINATION AWARD CATEGORY

Westhaven Award (outstanding FIS technical delegate)

The Westhaven Award is a lifetime achievement award, recognizing an outstanding FIS technical delegate for his or her service over time. Nominations come from the pool of current FIS TDs.

WESTHAVEN AWARD Nomination Form

Nominations only open to those who hold a current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Technical Delegate membership. 

CLUB OF THE YEAR AWARD CATEGORY

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club of the Year Award

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Club of the Year is the club that achieved the most outstanding high-performance athletic and organizational results in the current season and best meets the athletic and club performance benchmarks.

This award will be granted for each sport: Adaptive, Alpine, Cross Country, Freeski, Freestyle, Snowboard & Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD CLUB OF THE YEAR AWARD Nomination Form

Nominations only open to those who are current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Clubs.

DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD CATEGORY

U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Coach of the Year Award

The U.S. Ski & Snowboard Development Coach of the Year Award recognizes outstanding contribution to development and international programs by a coach resulting in high-level performance by his or her athletes in competition during the past season. Coaches of the year are recognized for their leadership, commitment, sport knowledge and passion, including proven ability to foster athletic excellence amongst their constituents or teams. 

This award will be granted for each sport: Adaptive, Alpine, Cross Country, Freeski, Freestyle, Snowboard & Ski Jumping/Nordic Combined

U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR AWARD Nomination Form

Nominations only open to those who are current U.S. Ski & Snowboard Coaches.

Dawning the red, white, and blue striped socks and "USA" face paint, with glitter across their cheeks, the U.S. women’s 4x7.5k relay team put up a strong fight in an incredibly challenging race at the World Championships, ultimately finishing sixth in the world. The event featured two classic legs followed by two skate legs. Rosie Brennan, Julia Kern, Sophia Laukli, and Jessie Diggins fought for the podium alongside 19 teams. Sweden ultimately won the day, with Norway in second and Germany third. 

Heavy rain the last couple of days and strong winds yesterday led to deteriorating tracks, which made the course increasingly choppy and slow. The teams battled through each leg, with Rosie Brennan leading off for the Americans, navigating the relentless climbs to keep the team in close contact with the front. 

"My goal was to stay as close as possible and tag off in close contact with other teams, and I felt I did that really well," said Brennan. "I was happy with how I skied today. I met my goals out there… it was good! The pace was fast from the start, especially in the second lap. The course is hard, I mean it’s seven minutes of straight climbing – it skies a little different than other courses, but our skis were great, good kick and good glide."

Julia Kern took over for the second classic leg, pushing hard to keep the U.S. in contention as the course continued to slow.

"I put it all out there for the team today," said Kern. "It was a really hard race, and of course I wanted more, but I gave everything I had in the race today, and that was my goal, and I am proud of that!"

Sophia Laukli took over for the third leg, shifting into skate skiing, before tagging off to Diggins for the anchor leg. Diggins delivered a gutsy performance, holding her own against Sweden’s Jonna Sundling's relentless pace, who was having what some would say the race of her life, erasing a 37.2-second deficit in just one 7.5k lap to secure Sweden’s gold medal.

Diggins, however, only lost three seconds to Sundling’s final time, a testament to her strong and gutsy skiing on the day. When it was all said and done, the U.S. team claimed sixth place but today's race was about more than just individual performances—it was about racing for something bigger - your teammates. 

"Relay days are special," Brennan reflected. "You go out there not just for yourself, but for your teammates."

The Championships continue tomorrow with the men’s 50k, followed by the women’s 50k on Sunday. Today’s race was held in front of another record-breaking crowd, with over 40,000 fans packed into the stadium and likely over 60,000 lining the woods, creating an atmosphere befitting a world-class event. Tomorrow, its speculated to be even bigger. 

RESULTS
Women

World Championships Schedule 

• Saturday, March 8
  • 5:30 a.m. men’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live
• Sunday, March 9
  • 5:30 a.m. - women’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live

Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern made history once again, securing a silver medal in the classic team sprint at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway. This marks their second consecutive World Championships medal as a duo, following their bronze in the skate team sprint two years ago in Planica, Slovenia. 

The American pair finished just 2.90 seconds behind Sweden, led by Maja Dahlqvist and Jonna Sundling, with Switzerland rounding out the podium in third. With this performance, Diggins and Kern delivered only the second-ever World Championships medal for the U.S. in a classic event. The first came in 2017 when Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen took bronze in the same discipline in Lahti, Finland. This is the American's fourth team sprint World Championships podium, with the pairing of Diggins and Kern holding 50% of those medals. 

"We both love team events because you’re not just fighting for yourself, but for each other and for our whole team," Kern said after the race. "Today, everything came together, and we’re so proud to bring this medal home."

The team sprint consists of each skier alternating laps, completing three each for a total of six. Diggins led off for the U.S., with Kern anchoring the final push to the finish. Kern knew she had more in the tank on her third lap and strategically saved herself to go all out—an effort that helped secure the U.S. silver medal. 

"Our strategy as a team was to go quite hard from the start and make it hard and string it out. My job was to go and Julia had to be the smart one," said Diggins, in a post-race press conference. "I knew to stay behind Jonna (Sundling), for as long as I could, and it really was a challenge! But I am so insanely grateful for our tech team for their work. It takes a whole team and today they really nailed it. This World Championship medal belongs to the entire team."

This medal holds special meaning for both Diggins and Kern, who have battled through individual injuries and illnesses over the past year. Overcoming those challenges to stand together on the podium made this accomplishment even sweeter. "Winning a medal is always special, but winning it with Julia after everything we’ve been through makes it even better," Diggins said.

The two have been training partners for the last decade at the Stratton Mountain School (SMST2) in Vermont, where they’ve developed a close friendship and a deep competitive bond. 

"I also have to say I am so proud of Julia," said Diggins through tears. "I have been training with her for ten years and seeing her skiing like a boss out there was so cool. It's so cool to see how much work she has put in and overcoming all of these challenges - it's not easy, but she makes it look easy." 

This result further cements Diggins’ status as one of the most decorated American cross-country skiers of all time, bringing her career total to seven World Championship medals. For Kern, it marks her second podium finish at the World Championships. 

With the team sprint now behind them, Diggins and Kern will shift their focus to the remaining events at the World Championships, looking to carry this momentum forward.

"When I crossed the finish line today, I told Jessie happy ten year anniversary," said Julia. "We've been on the same club team for a decade at SMST2. I was really inspired and wanted to train with the best and little did I know my role model was going to become my teammate and my close friend."

The men raced as well today, with JC Schoonmaker and Gus Schumacher teaming up. It was a tight race from the go and Schoonmaker and Schumacher held tight in the front pack, in strong contention of the podium in the majority of the race. The day was ultimately won by the Norwegians, with Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo taking home his fourth straight World Championships gold, alongside teammate Erik Valnes. Silver went to Finland and third to Sweden. The American men were sixth overall, only 12 seconds out from gold. 

Now, the team makes a quick turnaround for the men's team relay tomorrow, March 5. Watch LIVE on skiandsnowboard.live. 

Results
Women

World Championships Schedule (all times EST)

• Thursday, March 6
  • 6:30 a.m. - men’s 4x7.5k relay - skiandsnowboard.live
• Friday, March 7
  • 8:00 a.m. women’s 4x7.5k relay - skiandsnowboard.live
• Saturday, March 8
  • 5:30 a.m. men’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live
• Sunday, March 9
  • 5:30 a.m. - women’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live

Another unbelievably electric day unfolded at the 2025 FIS World Championships in Trondheim, Norway, the epicenter of cross country skiing, with an atmosphere that somehow surpassed even the intensity of the sprint races just two days ago. An estimated 25,000-30,000 fans lined the course, creating an unforgettable setting for the men’s 20k skiathlon—the second race of the championships. 

Gus Schumacher, who was on the podium in second place in Falun just last weekend, delivered another standout performance, finishing ninth and securing his first career top-10 result at a World Championships. This is Schumacher's third World Championships. 

“We are putting ourselves there, and eventually, things will click,” Schumacher said, reflecting on the potential for the Stifel U.S. Ski Team men’s squad to reach the podium in future races. And today, Schumacher certainly made things click. 

The atmosphere today was nothing short of incredible. And Schumacher even credited the rowdy Norwegian crowd for adding to the day’s intensity. “It was the first time up in the woods, and it was so loud – you couldn’t hear anything or feel my body! I am really proud of today. My classic skis were quite good, and I was in a good spot going into the skate. I skied in the pack, which made it a bit harder to move through, but I am proud of staying there and giving myself the opportunity.”

In the skiathlon format, athletes start off classic skiing, then mid-race, and switch to their skate skis. Time does not stop for the transition - it's part of the race. And today, it was as exciting as ever, as the transition zone was in the middle of three massive grandstands, with 20,000 fans chanting at the top of their lungs on all sides.

Schumacher skied a smart race. He stayed in the lead pack in the first three classic laps, right behind a sea of Norwegians, France, Italy and Great Britain. Bopping between the top 10 and top 20, he was never more than five seconds back, positioning himself for the skate leg - a preference for the young Alaskan. In less than 10 seconds, Schumacher was on his skate skis through the transition zone. With three more laps to go, the pace was quickening, tensions were getting higher and the athletes were starting to realize that the finish line was only 10k away.

As the saying goes, "it was anyone's game" on the last lap--his statement was true in this scenario. Into the final stretch, it was the Norwegians fighting for the podium. With only three medals on the line, it was a fight between Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Harald Oestberg Amundsen, Jan Thomas Jenssen, and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget. With a lunge that left all three men tangled in a heap at the line, Klaebo took the gold - his first-ever distance World Championships globe medal, Nyenget silver, and Amundsen bronze. Klaebo, the hometown hero, is two-for-two in his World Championships campaign. 

Kevin Bolger was just outside the top 30, finishing 31st, while Zak Ketterson, in his first-ever World Championships, placed 41st, and Zanden McMullen finished 46th, also in his first-ever Championships start. 

“Today was pretty rough, but it’s my first World Championships race, so it’s a bit of a learning experience,” said McMullen. “It’s truly the next stage up from the World Cup stage! The biggest difference… well, the lights are a little brighter, I’d say!”

For Ketterson, racing in Trondheim carried extra significance. “I lived here last summer—my wife and I lived in Heimdal—so this felt a little bit like my home World Champs,” he said. “There were so many fans, and they were so loud and fun – I am really impressed.”

The action continues tomorrow as the women take to the same demanding 20k skiathlon course, with racing set to begin at 8 a.m. ET on skiandsnowboard.live.

Results
Men

The 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships kicked off in front of an electrifying crowd of 25,000 fans, with 66 nations represented and 308 athletes—187 men and 121 women—taking the course for the individual skate sprint. The Stifel U.S. Ski Team delivered, with all eight American athletes advancing to the sprint heats for the first time in years at a major championship. Julia Kern took home her first top five of the season, landing in fifth on the sport's biggest stage. Ben Ogden led the way for the men, finishing in 12th. 

The atmosphere in Trondheim was electric, with tens of thousands crowding the sprint course. During the qualifications, the sound was almost deafening - and it only got louder as the day went on, creating a similar atmosphere to what the athletes experienced in Minneapolis last February at the Stifel Loppet Cup.

Kern headlined the American results, finishing fifth overall—her best result of the season and her first time making it through to an individual World Championship sprint final. Kern’s performance highlighted a strong day for the U.S. women’s squad, which was led by defending world champion Jessie Diggins, who embarked on her eighth World Championships campaign. Rosie Brennan, who is in her sixth World Championships, also delivered a solid performance after a month off of the World Cup, while first-time World Championship racer Kate Oldham impressed with a 22nd place finish in her debut.

On the men’s side, Ogden led the way for the U.S. squad, finishing 12th overall. He was followed by teammates Gus Schumacher, JC Schoonmaker and first-time World Championships competitor Jack Young. Notably, all Stifel U.S. Ski Team athletes placed inside the top 30, marking a successful opening day for the team.

"One of my goals today was to dig deep and push hard over the sections where the race will be decided," said Kern. "And with yesterday's race prep, I fixed all of the mistakes I made then and skied the downhills and corners well. I owe a lot of that success to my teammates because yesterday, I was learning from Kate (Oldham), who was showing us how to ski them well - and that was cool to have that younger teammate show us. It really shows the depth of our team!" 

Kern and Ogden were firing on all cylinders in the sprint heats. Ogden was paired with teammate Schumacher in the third quarterfinal heat, with only Ogden qualifying by being in the top two. Schoonmaker and Young made up heat four, and though neither advanced, it was a solid day of racing, especially for Young, who was skiing in his first World Championships and will now travel back to the U.S. to represent Colby College at the NCAA Championships. 

For the women, Kern was in the second heat and was second across the line, nailing it to secure a spot in the semis. Brennan did not advance out of heat two. Then, Diggins skied a strong race into the third quarterfinal heat and held her own in the fastest women's heat of the day, where the two lucky losers advanced from that heat; Diggins, unfortunately, did not qualify. Oldham's day was already won by advancing through to the heats in her first-ever World Champs start and gave it her all in the quarterfinals and landed fifth in her heat. Though she did not qualify to the semis, it was a strong showing by the Montana State University skier. Then, through the semifinals, Kern was the lone American and skied a strong and fast race. Crossing the line in fourth, she thought her day was over, yet her heat was the faster of the two semifinals and secured her a spot into her first final of the year. In the final, it was a cat-and-mouse game, but Kern skied a savvy and tactful race despite the snow worsening as the day went on. 

She was fifth, "but that felt like a win today," she said, post-race while hugging her coach Kristen Bourne and wax technician Eli Brown. 

The day belonged to Norway’s hometown hero Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, who captured yet another sprint World Championship gold in front of his home crowd, marking his 10th World Championships medal. Italy’s Federico Pellegrino secured silver, while Finland’s Lauri Vuorinen pulled off an upset to claim bronze. In the women’s race, Sweden’s Jonna Sundling dethroned the Norwegian favorite Kristine Stavaas Skistad to win gold, while Switzerland’s Nadine Fähndrich rounded out the podium with bronze.

The U.S. results were Kern in fifth, Oldham in 22nd, Diggins 23rd and Brennan in 30th. For the men, Ogden was 12th, Schoonmaker in 15th, Young 18th and Schumacher 27th. 

The Championships continue on Saturday, March 1, with the men’s 20k skiathlon. Watch live on skiandnowboard.live at 8:00 a.m. ET.

HOW TO WATCH (All times ET)

• Saturday, 3/1
  • 8:00 a.m. - men’s 20k skiathlon - skiandsnowboard.live
• Sunday, 3/2
  • 8:00 a.m. - women’s 20k skiathlon - skiandsnowboard.live
• Tuesday, 3/4
  • 7:00 a.m. - men’s 10k classic - skiandsnowboard.live
  • 9:30 a.m. - women’s 10k classic - skiandsnowboard.live
• Wednesday, March 5
  • 8:30 a.m. - team sprint - skiandsnowboard.live
• Thursday, March 6
  • 6:30 a.m. - men’s 4x7.5k relay - skiandsnowboard.live
• Friday, March 7
  • 8:00 a.m. women’s 4x7.5k relay - skiandsnowboard.live
• Saturday, March 8
  • 5:30 a.m. men’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live
• Sunday, March 9
  • 5:30 a.m. - women’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live

RESULTS
Women
Men