February 12, 2014 (Krasnaya Polyana, Russia) – It was a fateful day for American Kikkan Randall as she found herself eliminated early in the women’s 1.3km Sprint FR to everyone’s surprise, while her teammate Sophie Caldwell soared to new heights at her Olympic debut in Sochi. Caldwell, from Peru, VT, the top North American qualifier, soon found herself swapping roles with the legendary Randall who hoped to make history as the first American woman to medal in xc skiing at the Games. Randall’s long-time rival, and the queen of the previous Games at Vancouver 2010, Marit Bjoergen (NOR), was also out following a crash in her semi final as both veterans stepped aside allowing new rising stars to shine on the Olympic stage – and shine they did.

Sophie Caldwell (USA) debuts at the Games in style © Nordic Focus

When the dust settled it was Norway’s Maiken Caspersen Falla who was wearing the gold medal on the final podium as the crash-filled sprint took out some heavy hitters including Falla’s teammate and Norwegian star, Bjoergen, who crashed in her semi final as mentioned. Yet Falla and Ingvild Flugstad Oestberg kept Norway’s Olympic drive very much alive taking gold and silver in the sprint. Vesna Fabjan of Slovania claimed the bronze in closely contested dash to the line.

“I’ve been thinking about this race for a long time… we planned it out and showed up today ready to go and I was really happy with the way the preparation has been coming into these Games,” said a disappointed Randall post race. “I felt really strong and my number one goal was to come in ready to fight for the medal and give it everything I had.”

(l) Malvalehto (FIN) leading Randall (USA) © Nordic Focus

“I was ready to come off that final turn and have a good finishing stretch but that final gear just wasn’t quite there and unfortunately I fell apart a little bit right before the finish and didn’t get a good lunge in. Seven hundredths of a second is an incredibly close margin and I’m sure I’ll be reliving those moments hundreds of times in my head,” she added. “I wish I would have been able to fight for that in a few more rounds today but maybe my teammates can carry the torch now.”

And that they did as Caldwell showed she has what it takes to ski at the Olympics. As the top North American qualifier she advanced thru her quarterfinal in second and then kicked it up in her semi final against Bjoergen and Slovania’s Katja Visnar. Caldwell had a great start sitting in second for most of the race but suddenly found herself in fourth as the finish line approached.

Bjoergen, the defending Olympic champion in this event, crashed taking her out of contention as her teammate Oestberg powered at the front while Germany’s Denise Herrmann sprinted on the outside trying to push out Italy’s Gaia Vuerich as she had with Crawford in the quarter final. Suddenly Caldwell saw the inside lane was clear and she opened it up challenging Oestberg in a photo finish. Her second-place result allowed her a start in the sprint final.

“In the quarter I decided to lead most of it and that ended up working out but I got really tired so in the semi I tried to conserve some energy so I could have some left for the finish and that played out well but I definitely glad I saved a bit,” commented Caldwell who was excited to see all four Americans women advance.

Sophie Caldwell (l) and Jessie Diggins (USA) © Nancie Battaglia

“I think any day that all of us qualify for the heats is a good day. Eventhough there were probably some individual disappointments on the day I think on the whole having 6 of us qualify out of eight overall is still a strong day,” she added.

Jessie Diggins, who finished 13th, suffered the same fate as Randall who ended up 18th with teammate Ida Sargent 19th. Out following her quarterfinal as well Diggins agreed with Caldwell. “It’s great that we were able to get four women into the quarter finals I think that says a lot about where our country comes from, and where we’re headed, ” shared Diggins.

“My own race wasn’t the one I had high hopes for. I mean of course I wanted to do well, but you know, my energy was also really focused towards my teammates today and I’m really happy that Sophie made it through. Sophie and I were fist-bumping and pretty psyched because there were three Russians in our heat, which meant the crowd went nuts.

Canada's Perianne Jones © Nancie Battaglia

“The course was tricky…it was salted and then it was slushy. I skied the best I could and I’m very proud of that. I couldn’t find windows to get through but that’s sometimes the way it goes, but I feel like the fitness is there and that’s really good because my biggest focus is of course the team relay, and that’s what I’m putting everything towards on this week,” added Diggins.

Canada’s Perianne Jones who finished 23rd today is looking forward to the Team Sprint classic with teammate Dasha Gaiazova. “I got off to a bit of a slower start than I would have liked. Other than that I felt pretty good and my body feels good so I’m looking forward to the classic Team Sprint. Obviously I would have liked to make it through to the next round but I’m happy with today,” shared the Almonte, Ont. skier.

Daria Gaiazova (CAN) © Nancie Battaglia

Fellow Canuck Gaiazova who qualified 27th and ended up 25th talked about her day in the tracks as well. “The goal was just to be aggressive from the start, stay in the front and stay out of trouble. So that’s what I tried to do and went so hard up the hill that I was really pumped. I was feeling pretty good and in control but after cresting the hill I don’t know but like I ran out of energy a bit at the end and when  the other girls went by I tried to stay with them.

“It’s my first Olympic race and overall I’m pretty happy with how it went. I really skied as hard as I could and thought I skied well strategically. I have three more races to go and the last one is the Team Sprint classic, I can’t wait,” said Gaiazova.

Caldwell crash... ©

In the women’s final, Fabjan had the Norwegians hot on her tail as she pulled the pack up the hill with Caldwell mid-pack. Falla soon took over and over the crest of the next climb only five skiers emerged without Caldwell. It seems the Vermont skier was in close quarters and suddenly found herself “on my butt.”

“To make the final was really exciting. I definitely wasn’t expecting that coming into today’s race so it exceeded my expectations – I was thrilled to be there. I’m not sure what I was thinking, it’s all kind of a blur. Kikkan talked to me right before I went in and gave me a big hug which helped a lot.

“I’m not sure exactly what happened when I fell. We were coming around that corner on top and someone tried to come super close on the inside as I was stepping over to take the corner and we got kind of tangled. The next thing I knew I was on my butt,” explained Caldwell.

Falla wins by a toe ©

Up ahead Falla and Oestberg were leading the charge and when Astrid Uhrenholdt Jacobsen suddenly needed a new pole it became a three-skier race for the podium. Fabjan, Falla and Oestberg speeded into the stadium each picking a lane as they sprinted to the line. In the end it was a photo finish with Falla winning the gold by the length of her big toe ahead of her teammate Oestberg as Fabjan settled for bronze. Caldwell skied across the line in 6th for a remarkable debut at the Games.

“I talked to both my parents last night,” added Caldwell. “When I woke up this morning they were fast asleep… although my mom probably wasn’t sleeping much last night. So I haven’t talked to them yet today. I’m sure that’s the next thing I’ll do. Last night my dad said to remember that I ski best when I’m having fun so try to have fun with it.

The day at the races in Sochi was full of surprises, crashes and unexpected winners and with plenty of racing to come there’s sure to be more fireworks.

Qualifications here
Final results here.

Final podium (l-r) Oestberg 2nd, Falla 1st, Fabjan 3rd © NordicFocus