USSA Announces Olympic Cross Country Athletes for Sochi 2014

January 22, 2014 (Park City, Utah) – The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced the nomination of 14 cross country athletes Wednesday morning. World Champions Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins will lead the team that includes seven athletes with Olympic experience. Randall, a two-time World Cup sprint champion, is going into the Games as a strong favorite.

14 athletes, led by World Champion Kikkan Randall, were nominated to the U.S. Olympic team in cross-country ski team. © Reese Brown

The U.S. team has been heralded for the strength of its roster throughout the season thus far and is expected to challenge the strong international field for Olympic medals. The formal naming of the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team by the United States Olympic Committee is set for Jan. 27.

“We have a unique opportunity to make history in Sochi. Our team speaks to years of dedication, experience and hard work with veterans setting the stage to turn that work into great results. Additionally, our younger athletes are fighting for results and have shown that they have earned their spots on this team. We’re ready for the challenge ahead,” said Chris Grover, Head Cross Country Coach

Highlights

– The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association announced the nomination of 14 cross country athletes to compete in in the Olympic Winter Games.

– Men nominated to the team include Erik Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA), Kris Freeman (Concord, NH), Brian Gregg (Minneapolis), Simi Hamilton (Aspen, CO), Noah Hoffman (Aspen, CO), Torin Koos (Leavenworth, WA) and Andy Newell (Shaftsbury, VT).

– The women’s cross country team nominations include Sadie Bjornsen (Winthrop, WA), Holly Brooks (Anchorage), Sophie Caldwell (Peru, VT), Jessie Diggins (Afton, MN), Kikkan Randall (Anchorage), Ida Sargent (Orleans, VT) and Liz Stephen (East Montpelier, VT).

– World Champions Randall and Diggins will lead a team that includes seven athletes with Olympic experience.

– Randall, a two-time World Cup sprint champion, is going into her fourth Games as a strong favorite.

– The U.S. team has been heralded for the strength of its roster throughout the season thus far and is expected to challenge the strong international field for Olympic medals.

– Athletes were selected from World Cup and international points rankings.

– The team is led by coaches Chris Grover, Matt Whitcomb and Jason Cork.

– The U.S. Olympic Committee will formally name the 2014 U.S. Olympic Team on January 27.

2014 Olympic Cross Country Nominations

Men’s Cross Country
– Erik Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA (7/14/1991)
– Brian Gregg, Minneapolis (6/27/1984)
– Kris Freeman, Concord, NH (10/14/1980) *
– Simi Hamilton, Aspen, CO (5/14/1987) *
– Noah Hoffman, Aspen, CO (8/1/1989)
– Torin Koos, Leavenworth, WA (7/19/1980) *
– Andy Newell, Shaftsbury, VT (11/30/1983) *

Women’s Cross Country
– Sadie Bjornsen, Winthrop, WA (11/21/1989)
– Holly Brooks, Anchorage (4/17/1982) *
– Sophie Caldwell, Peru, VT (3/22/1990)
– Jessie Diggins, Afton, MN (8/26/1991)
– Kikkan Randall, Anchorage (12/31/1982) *
– Ida Sargent, Orleans, VT (1/25/1988)
– Liz Stephen, East Montpelier, VT (1/12/1987) *

* Competed in past Olympics

Competition uniforms provided by Bjorn Daehlie.

All nominations are subject to approval by the U.S. Olympic Committee.

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2 Comments For This Post

1. Marty Hall, NH, USA says:
   January 23rd, 2014 at 3:11 pm

   Martin Hall says:

   January 23, 2014 at 9:35 am

   Time to chime in, as I see some of this whole process in a very different light then most of you—I’m a big points believer as my wife, Kathy and I designed the 1st points list back in the early to md- 70s in the US and then again in Canada in the early 80s. Big reason in the US, was because of the size of the country and trying to pick teams more objectively—it took a while to get enough cross pollination from one end of the country to the other so the lists that came out were more valid then just the coaches or some committee naming a team. Canada was a different reason, yes, it was a big country with the same problems, but when I went there in my 1st meeting with the athletes, there biggest complaint about the selection process for teams and trip,s was that it was too much politics and personalities in the selection process.
   The points now are a good selection criteria after all these years(very valid), especially now that the international team spends its winters in Europe and the domestics only get a shot at them is in the spring or if you are Continental Cup winner of trip to the World Cup for one period—that’s one guy and one lady each period—very small cross section. The history says that this process is not working–not for the US Team, anyway—but it is free—the FIS pays the bill or the organizers do.
   So, onward—I see the selection in a different light—57%of the men were picked by points and 0% of the women had that option—essentially that tells the women at home your international future is very limited. I’ve always been for filling the quota and still am–it has profound affects on the future of the program encouraging the fringe skiers that there is a chance for them–just think not more then 2-3 years ago all these young ladies and Hoffman where on the fringe-it encourages all the programs at home to row harder and you never know when and where that next skier is going to pop up. Yes, I’ve always believed the Olympics is also a development program—I’m sure I’ll get some back lash on that statement. Any time you can introduce a skier to the “big show” with the potential they will make it again in 4 years—-you have knocked down a ton of barriers they will not even see the next time. Also, there are 2 WSC in thos4 years—mini-Olympics!! The USOC is paying the bill, so you might as well spend there money.
   So, with this in mind, I bring forward that there are 6 events with 4 starters each—24 starting spots and with the addition of extra days the potential for some skiers to ski all the events—there will be a few that will try—but, they will compromise medals doing this—and every skier has their specialties. In looking to the US women’s team, they are not as strong right now as you might think, as Holly Brooks and Sadie Bjornson, are big question marks. Holly has not skied to her potential since mid-winter last year and Sadie has been away from racing for close to 6 weeks–it has been a struggle for her (read her blog http://sadiebjornsen.blogspot.com/ –Jan 9th entry–”16 Days with 6 French Frogs”) and Holly hasn’t raced in 4 weeks. In listening to the press conference on SkiTrax for the naming of the team—a lot of the evaluation of who is skiing what event will come next week Feb1-2 in Toblach, Italty.
   Oh, discretion—after a few mishaps of using it on the marginal selectees, I changed my thinking and only used it on the top guys in case of injury or sickness , especially during tryout periods.. It might be good if it went the way of the dodo bird–extinct–with all the different ways now that there is to make a team. There were 10 athletes on this team that knew they had made 2 of the criteria to be named to the Olympic team last spring—it just had to be made official.
   We can sit here and try to guesstimate who is going to ski what events—-good luck–so, as not to look too dumb, at least wait until after Toblach.
   I hope you are getting the gist of what I think should be done here—stick to the points list and add Kate Fitzgerald and Caitlin Gregg. No more boys—-they’ve gone deep enough.
   Wishing the best to these athletes, the coaches, the technicians and all the other support people it takes to pull off the big show this next month. For you guys and gals that didn’t make it–it is only 12 months to the World Ski Championships in Falun—don’t let go all of what you have gained and learned these past years!!

2. Marty Hall, NH, USA says:
   January 27th, 2014 at 11:20 am

   Well, we’ve pummeled the nail enough times—some misses and a lot of hits—the technicians whom are in short supply really do work their butts off—but they have only one day where they have 2 races to deal with—other wise it’s one race per day—4 skiers—in any given WC day they could be dealing with up to 10 skiers —so that excuse just flew out the window—also have any of you really looked at the schedule—the day off breaks in the Olympic Cross Country schedule in Sochi are 2 days, then 3 days, and then another 3 day break( one week off)–very nicely spread out—plus the skiers get another day off when the other sex is skiing—so that really lightens the load. So, that excuse continues to get diluted—–come on GUYS. The coaches haven’t figured this out as well as they should have—or is there a bit of a protection thing going on here.
   I HATE IT WHEN STARTING SPOTS ARE UNUSED—-WHAT A WASTE—THAT EXPERIENCE MAY SERVE ANOTHER SKIER DOWN THE ROAD—REMEMBER, WE HAVE THE NEXT WORLD CHAMPS JUST 12 MONTHS AWAY. THE USOC FUNDS THIS PROGRAM AND THEY CAN HELP YOU GET NEXT YEARS TEAM READY. PLUS USSA DOESN’T GET TO CHERRY PICK ANY OF THOSE DOLLARS OFF.
   One other thing, the tryouts are getting to be—TOO INTERNATIONAL—all US XC Team members must be required to attend the Nats and Spring Series as part of their team contract—this cross pollination is almost dead in the US—the kids at home NEED TO GET access to their points(and the Euros, as they are becoming, have great points to give), but more importantly is that they get to see these people and interact with them. WHAT A WAY TO GET THE NEXT YEAR STARTED–GOOD POINTS–GOOD RELATIONSHIPS RE-BUILT—OH, YES, THERE HAS TO BE A PARTY TO REMEMBER!!!! BEEN THERE—DONE THAT!!!
   SO, CAITLIN IS IN EUROPE—ADD HER TO THE TEAM AND GET SYLVAN KATE F. ON THE PLANE ASAP

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