Ben Ogden made history at the cross-country skiing competition, earning a silver medal during the men's sprint classic final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo held in Italy. He finished the race in 3 minutes and 40.61 seconds, just 0.87 seconds behind Norway's Johannes Hösflot Klæbo, who took gold. This achievement is monumental as it marks the first Olympic medal for a U.S. male cross-country skier since Bill Koch's silver at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympics, highlighting a significant turnaround for the sports in the U.S. despite the long gap without a medal.

In a lighthearted moment following the medal ceremony, Ogden celebrated his victory by performing an improvised backflip off the podium, much to the amusement of Klæbo and his Norwegian teammates. During a subsequent interview, Ogden expressed the historical significance of his performance and his childhood dream of executing a backflip, indicating it was an ideal moment to showcase his skills and celebrate the win. The playful stunt also served to draw attention to cross-country skiing, a sport in which Ogden hopes to inspire greater interest among American youth.

Ogden's victory and flamboyant celebration are significant not just for him but also for the growth of cross-country skiing in the United States. He remarked on the importance of building interest in the sport among younger generations and expressed a vision for the future, hoping that the momentum gained from his success could lead to a tenfold increase in participation and achievement for U.S. cross-country skiing. The backflip symbolizes a passionate plea to recognize and embrace the sport's appeal in a country where it has often struggled to gain traction.