Ben Ogden’s Olympic success reflects the lifelong dedication and guidance of his parents, John and Andrea Ogden.
Benjamin “Ben” Ogden has established himself as one of the brightest stars in American cross-country skiing.
Born on February 13, 2000, in Landgrove, Vermont, Ogden burst onto the international scene when he and his teammates secured a silver medal at the 2018 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Goms, Switzerland.
This historic achievement marked the first-ever medal for U.S. men at a World Juniors Championship event.
The following year, Ogden and his team improved their performance by claiming gold at the 2019 Junior World Championships in Lahti, then repeated as champions in 2020.
At the University of Vermont, Ogden became a two-time NCAA champion, winning the 10-kilometer freestyle in 2020 and capturing both the 10-kilometer classic and 20-kilometer freestyle titles in 2022.
He graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering while maintaining his elite athletic career.
Ogden made his Olympic debut at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where he finished 12th in the freestyle sprint—the best-ever individual sprint result for a U.S. man at that time.
On February 10, 2026, at the Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy, Ben Ogden made history by winning the silver medal in the men’s sprint classic with a time of 3:40.61.
He became the first American man to win an Olympic medal in cross-country skiing in 50 years, ending a drought that dated back to Bill Koch’s silver medal at the 1976 Innsbruck Games.
After receiving his medal, Ogden fulfilled a promise he made to his 15-year-old self by performing a backflip off the Olympic podium.
Ben Ogden’s Parents, John and Andrea Ogden, Guided His Path to Olympic Glory
Ben Ogden’s remarkable journey to Olympic glory traces its roots back to the small Vermont community of Landgrove, where his parents, John and Andrea Ogden, raised their three children in a home where skiing was not just a sport but a way of life.
The Ogden family barn near Landgrove became a central gathering place where Ben developed his love for both skiing and mechanical projects, spending countless hours working alongside his father on everything from ski equipment to vehicle restoration.
John Ogden shaped not only his son’s skiing career but also the broader Nordic skiing community across Vermont.
Born in 1967 in Springfield, Vermont, John graduated from Middlebury College in 1989 after competing as a cross-country skier during his university years.
His passion for the sport never waned after graduation. Instead, it evolved into a lifelong commitment to developing the next generation of skiers through coaching, race officiating, and community leadership.
John introduced all three of his children—Katharine, Ben, and Charlotte—to skiing at a young age, teaching them the fundamentals that would serve as the foundation for their competitive careers.
His hands-on approach extended beyond his own family. John coached a local youth ski league named in honor of Bill Koch, the legendary Vermont skier who won America’s first cross-country Olympic medal in 1976.
The connection between the Kochs and the Ogdens ran deep—Ben grew up just five minutes from where Bill Koch lived and frequently trained on the trails Koch had carved through his Vermont property.
“I grew up maybe five minutes from where Bill Koch lives,” Ben told the Boston Globe.
“I trained and raced with his son for many years and still do when I get the opportunity. I’ll never forget when I was young, going over to the Kochs and skiing the trails that Bill made in the backyard.”
This proximity to skiing history was no accident—it was part of the rich Nordic skiing culture that John Ogden helped cultivate in southern Vermont.
John’s influence extended beyond individual coaching. He served on the boards of the Stratton Mountain School professional team and the New England Nordic Ski Association, playing a crucial role in shaping programs that would produce Olympic athletes.
His dedication to the sport represented a selfless investment in creating opportunities for young skiers across the region.
Through his work with these organizations, John helped establish Vermont as a powerhouse for developing world-class Nordic skiing talent.
Beyond skiing, John and Andrea, along with Ann and Robert Hausslein, co-owned Sugar Bob’s Finest Kind, a maple syrup operation that produces unique products from a grove of more than 10,000 trees.
The business specializes in creative offerings like maple sriracha, maple barbeque sauce, and smoked maple syrup, reflecting the entrepreneurial spirit and connection to the land that characterized the Ogden family’s approach to life in rural Vermont.
In 2023, after a decade-long battle with cancer, John Ogden passed away at the age of 56.
His obituary captured his spirit perfectly: “In lieu of flowers, John’s request was that everyone spend a little extra time outside, be it on foot, on a bike, or on skis, in his honor.”
When Ben stood on the Olympic podium in Tesero, his thoughts turned immediately to his father.
“I miss him every single day,” Ben told reporters after winning the silver medal.
The victory represented not just a personal achievement but the fulfillment of years of training, sacrifice, and dedication that John had nurtured from Ben’s earliest days on skis.
Though John was not physically present to witness his son make history, his influence permeated every aspect of Ben’s journey to Olympic glory.
Andrea Ogden has been a steady presence throughout Ben’s skiing career, providing support and encouragement through the countless early mornings, long training sessions, and competitive pressures that define elite athletics.
Like her husband John, Andrea raised their three children in Landgrove’s close-knit community, where the family barn served as both a workshop and a gathering place for the skiing community.
Andrea rarely gets the opportunity to watch Ben compete in person, as his racing schedule takes him across Europe for much of the season.
This made her presence at the 2026 Olympics even more meaningful. When Ben crossed the finish line with the silver medal secured, Andrea stood in the stands with friends, overwhelmed with emotion.
“There’s all kinds of people here from Vermont,” Ben told reporters after the race.
“My mom is here. A bunch of people from my home town are here. If I wasn’t doing this I’d be over there celebrating with them. I’m just excited I was able to put on a good show with so many Vermonters here and watching back home.”
Andrea witnessed not just an athletic achievement but the culmination of a family journey that began decades earlier on Vermont’s snowy trails.
“Ben used to ski in Bill Koch’s backyard,” Andrea reflected, capturing the surreal nature of watching her son follow in the footsteps of Vermont’s skiing legend. “It feels surreal.“
When Ben received his medal and performed his promised backflip off the podium, Andrea watched with tears streaming down her face.
“It was overwhelming,” she said later. “Just pure joy.”
Her emotion reflected not just pride in her son’s accomplishment but also an understanding of the countless hours, sacrifices, and uncertainties that led to that single moment of triumph.
Andrea’s presence at the Olympics also highlighted the role she has played in keeping the family grounded.
Throughout Ben’s rise through junior competitions, NCAA championships, and World Cup podiums, Andrea provided stability and perspective.
Her rare appearances at competitions made them all the more special, reminding Ben of the family and community support that sustained him through the challenges of professional athletics.
After John’s death in 2023, Andrea’s support became even more crucial as Ben navigated the grief of losing his father while continuing to pursue his Olympic dreams.
The family’s strength through this difficult period speaks to the resilience and unity that John and Andrea cultivated throughout their children’s lives.
“You know how many things have to go right,” Andrea said, reflecting on Ben’s Olympic success. “And how many times they don’t.“
