Vermont Native and UVM Alum Ben Ogden Wins Olympic Silver

Olivia Fanjoy, Copy Editor/Social Media Manager • February 25, 2026

Ben Ogden with his Olympic silver

Published: February 23, 2026

For New England skiers and athletes across the region, this year’s Winter Olympics delivered a moment that felt especially close to home. Vermont native and University of Vermont graduate Ben Ogden earned a silver medal in men’s cross-country sprint skiing at the 2026 Winter Olympics, marking a historic breakthrough for Team USA and a proud milestone for his collegiate roots.

Ogden’s second-place finish ended fifty medal-free years for American men in Olympic cross-country skiing. Beyond its national significance, his achievement has resonated strongly throughout northern New England, where Nordic skiing programs, college teams, and winter-sport communities have followed his rise for years.

The Olympic sprint requires athletes to qualify individually, then survive multiple elimination heats against world-class competitors. Ogden advanced through each round with his signature powerful and explosive skiing, ultimately finishing second in the final behind Norway’s top contender. His performance placed him among the very few American men ever to medal in Olympic cross-country skiing.

Coverage after the race highlighted not only the result but the emotion behind it. Ogden celebrated his medal with a backflip off the podium, fulfilling a promise he made to himself as a teenager dreaming about the Olympic stage. That moment quickly spread across sports media and social platforms, becoming a symbol of both personal triumph and long-term dedication.

As college students, artists, journalists, and athletes alike balance demanding schedules and long-term goals, Ogden’s silver medal stands as a reminder that elite achievement often grows from regional roots and years of steady work.

Volume 57 Issue 12

Donate to The Free Press

Your donation will support the student journalists of University of Southern Maine. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.

About the Contributor

Olivia Fanjoy, Editor-in-Chief

Olivia Fanjoy is a clarinetist, writer, and the Co-Editor-in-Chief of The Free Press for the 2026–2027 academic year at the University of Southern Maine. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Music. Her interest in journalism grew out of a fascination with ideas, institutions, and the ways people communicate with one another. At The Free Press, she is especially interested in stories surrounding higher education, campus culture, the arts, and the growing role of technology in everyday life. She believes student journalism should challenge people to think critically while still remaining deeply connected to the community it serves. Outside of the newsroom, Fanjoy studies clarinet with Dr. Thomas Parchman and performs with the Osher School of Music Wind Ensemble and the Southern Maine Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed in numerous pit orchestras for musicals and opera productions, including productions of Urinetown, Heathers, Fiddler on the Roof, and Gianni Schicchi. Fanjoy also works at Great Waters Summer Concerts, where she has developed experience in nonprofit arts management, marketing, and community engagement. As a visually impaired musician, she is passionate about accessibility, creative expression, and building environments where people feel encouraged to participate, question, and grow.