Sochi Olympians Jessie Diggins and Sophie Caldwell each won Tour de Ski stages this week, becoming the third and fourth U.S. women to earn World Cup cross-country skiing victories.
Diggins, the World 10km freestyle silver medalist, took a 5km freestyle race in Toblach, Italy, on Friday.
Caldwell prevailed in a 1.2km classic sprint in Oberstdorf, Germany, on Tuesday.
The only other U.S. women to win World Cup races were Alison Owen-Spencer in 1978 and four-time Olympian Kikkan Randall, who has 14 World Cup wins, according to the U.S. Ski Team. (Whether Owen-Spencer’s victory was a World Cup race is disputed)
Cross-country skiing has been on the Olympic program since 1924 for men and 1952 for women. Bill Koch is the only American with an Olympic medal, silver from the 30km in 1976.
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Diggins wins first World Cup in Toblach. Weng 2nd, Oestberg 3rd.Oestberg extends lead to 25 sec . #tourdeski pic.twitter.com/6SUcJj9Qvj
— FIS Cross-Country (@FISCrossCountry) January 8, 2016