Coming into Monday, the U.S. could claim two cross-country ski medalists all time at the Winter Youth Olympic Games, which were first held in Seefeld in 2012 and have continued every four years since. That total has now grown to three, as Tabor Greenberg (Green Mountain Valley School) took a bronze medal in the boys skate sprint at Alpensia Biathlon Centre in Pyeongchang earlier Monday. Gold went to Federico Pozzi of Italy and silver to Jakob Elias Moch of Germany (yes he is Friedrich’s brother).
Bronze medallist Tabor Greenberg USA celebrates on the podium following the Cross Country Skiing Men’s Sprint at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC
The Americans had three men in the race; all three qualified. Landon Wyatt (Bridger Ski Foundation) qualified in 30th, then was fifth in his quarterfinal to place 25th overall on the day. Benjamin Barbier (Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club) led the trio in qualifying with the sixth-best time there, then was sixth in his quarterfinal to end the day in 26th.
Greenberg won his quarterfinal, the fifth, then advanced out of the second semifinal as a lucky loser after coming in third in a three-way boot throw at the line. I can’t show you a full broadcast of the final — given that the Olympic logo is involved I’m honestly surprised that this much is still up online — but the second slide here is decent for video:
Greenberg joins Kendall Kramer and Will Koch, who took bronze medals in the 5km and 10km classic, respectively, in Switzerland in 2020 as American medalists at the Winter Youth Olympic Games.
Kajsa Johansson SWE, Annette Coupat FRA, Agathe Margreither FRA, Neve Gerard USA, Klaudia Radomyska POL and Leanne Gartner CAN compete in Quarterfinal 5 of the Cross Country Skiing Women’s Sprint at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC
The U.S. also had three entrants on the women’s side, all of whom made the heats. Neve Gerard (Mount Bachelor Ski Education Foundation) qualified in 15th and was fourth in her quarterfinal (see above), placing 17th overall. Rose Horning (Ski & Snowboard Club Vail) was right behind her, 21st in qualifying and then fourth in her quarterfinal to end the day in 18th overall. And Sydney Drevlow (Loppet Nordic Racing) was ninth in qualifying, then a close sixth in her heat to place 26th overall.
Neve Gerard USA in action at the start of the Cross Country Skiing Women’s Sprint Free Qualification at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCRose Horning USA in action in the Cross Country Skiing Women’s Sprint at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCRose Horning USA in action in the Cross Country Skiing Women’s Sprint Free Qualification at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCBenjamin Barbier USA in action in the Cross Country Skiing Men’s Sprint Free Qualification at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCLandon Wyatt USA in action in the Cross Country Skiing Men’s Sprint Free Qualification at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCKajsa Johansson SWE, Annette Coupat FRA, Agathe Margreither FRA, Neve Gerard USA, Klaudia Radomyska POL and Leanne Gartner CAN compete in Quarterfinal 5 of the Cross Country Skiing Women’s Sprint at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCFederico Pozzi ITA crosses the finish line to win the gold medal in the Cross Country Skiing Men’s Sprint at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCTabor Greenberg USA in action in the Cross Country Skiing Men’s Sprint Free Qualification at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOCGold Medallist Federico Pozzi ITA, silver medallist Jakob Elias Moch GER and bronze medallist Tabor Greenberg USA celebrate on the podium following the Cross Country Skiing Men’s Sprint at the Alpensia Biathlon Centre. The Winter Youth Olympic Games, Gangwon, South Korea, Monday 29 January 2024. Photo: OIS/Jonathan Nackstrand. Handout image supplied by OIS/IOC
Racing in Pyeongchang continues tomorrow with a 7.5km interval-start classic race, then concludes on Thursday with a 4 x 5km mixed relay.
