For the first time, American skiers will have their own wax and grind trucks at the Olympics, closing the gap on the perennial contenders in the midst of an equipment arms race.

Storylines abound for legends like Johannes Klaebo and Jessie Diggins as we preview the cross-country competition set to begin Saturday at the 2026 Olympic Games.

The 2026 Games will feature just one new sport in the program: skimo. It follows in the IOC’s tradition of experimentation that has brought us several mainstays, as well as a few oddballs.

McCabe, 24, grew up in the Methow Valley and began skiing at a young age as part of the region’s strong winter sports community.

The United States has the most athletes competing in the Winter Olympics, but is not favored to win the gold medal race.

Jessie Diggins, age 34, helped break an Olympic medal drought for American cross-country skiers that dated back to the 1970s. In her final season, she enters the Milan Cortina Olympics on a winning streak and with new peace of mind.

Annika Malacinski remembers the moment the door to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics was slammed shut. On a flight from Munich to Denver, she bought airplane Wi-Fi to join a conference call with the International Olympic Committee,

The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected Bolshunov’s last-ditch attempt to be able to compete as an Individual Neutral Athlete.