Events in Sport
- 1883-11-06 NYAC organizes 1st American cross-country championship race
1st Winter Olympics
1924-01-30 Norway’s Thorleif Haug claims first of 3 gold medals at the Chamonix Winter Olympics; wins 50k cross country in a Norwegian sweep of the medals; also 18k and Nordic combined champion
- 1924-02-02 Norway’s Thorleif Haug takes the cross-country double at the Chamonix Winter Olympics when he wins the 18k event; Haug also 50k gold medalist
Lindbergh Visits Idaho
1927-09-04 Charles Lindbergh visits Boise, Idaho, on his cross-country tour
- 1928-02-14 Per-Erik Hedlund leads a Swedish sweep of the medals in the 50k cross-country at the St. Moritz Winter Olympics; Gustaf Jonsson & Volgar Andersson take the minor medals
- 1928-02-17 Johan Grøttumsbråten leads a Norwegian sweep of the medals in the 18k cross country at the St. Moritz Winter Olympics; he also wins the Nordic combined gold the following day
- 1928-02-18 Johan Grøttumsbråten of Norway wins the Nordic combined gold at the St. Moritz Winter Olympics; doubles up with the 18k cross country gold the previous day
- 1932-02-10 Sweden goes 1-2 in the 18k cross country event at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics; Sven Utterström wins gold ahead of teammate Axel Wikström
- 1932-02-13 Finland goes 1-2 in the 50k cross country event at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics; Veli Saarinen wins gold ahead of teammate Väinö Liikkanen
- 1939-11-19 Don Lash wins 6th straight AAU cross-country 10K championship
- 1942-05-13 Helicopter makes its 1st cross-country flight
- 1948-01-31 Sweden sweeps the medals in the 18km cross country event at the St. Moritz Winter Olympics; Martin Lundström takes gold ahead of countrymen Nils Östensson and Gunnar Eriksson
- 1948-02-06 Nils Karlsson wins the 50k cross country gold medal at the St. Moritz Winter Olympics; Swedish skiers win all 3 cross-country events at the Games
- 1952-02-23 Following his Nordic combined gold medal in St. Moritz (1948), Heikki Hasu takes his 2nd Olympic gold as part of Finland’s 4 x 10k cross country relay team at the Olso Winter Games
- 1952-02-23 Lydia Wideman of Finland becomes first female Olympic cross-country skiing champion; wins inaugural 10k event in Olso; Finnish medal sweep with minors to Mirja Hietamies and Siiri Rantanen
- 1956-01-27 Veikko Hakulinen of Finland wins Olympic 30k cross country gold medal at Cortina d'Ampezzo; second career Olympic title after winning the 15k event in Oslo, 1952
- 1956-01-30 Hallgeir Brenden of Norway wins Olympic 15k cross country gold medal at the Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Games; his 2nd career Olympic title after taking out the 18k event in Oslo (1952)
- 1960-02-19 Swedish cross country skier Sixten Jernberg follows his 50k gold medal in Cortina d'Ampezzo (1956) with victory in 30k event at the Squaw Valley Winter Olympics
- 1960-02-20 Soviet females sweep the 10k cross country event at Squaw Valley; first medal sweep for the Soviets at a Winter Olympics; Maria Gusakova wins from Lyubov Kozyreva and Radya Yeroshina
- 1960-02-27 Veikko Hakulinen of Finland wins his 3rd career Olympic cross country gold medal as part of Finland's 4 x 10k relay team at Squaw Valley, CA; winner: 50k (Oslo, 1952) and 30k (Cortina d’Ampezzo, 1956)
- 1964-08-18 The Beatles arrive in San Francisco, California on their second US visit, and first cross-country tour, encompassing 32 shows in 25 cities over 31 days
- 1968-02-13 Swedish 10k cross country champion Toini Gustafsson wins her 2nd gold medal at the Grenoble Winter Olympics in the 5k event ahead of Soviet pair Galina Kulakova and Alvetina Kolchina
- 1968-02-14 Norwegian 15k Olympic cross country champion Harald Grønningen wins his second gold medal of the Grenoble Winter Olympics in the 4 x 10k relay
- 1968-02-17 Norwegian cross country skier Ole Ellefsæter wins 50k event at the Grenoble Winter Olympics; 2nd gold medal of the Games (4 x 10k relay)
Olympic Gold
1980-02-14 Soviet cross-country skier Nikolay Zimyatov wins first of 3 gold medals at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics when he takes out 30k event; also wins relay and 50k gold
- 1980-02-15 Soviet cross-country skier Raisa Smetanina claims her 3rd of 4 career Olympic gold medals in 5k event at Lake Placid; also wins 10k and relay gold (Innsbruck 1976) and relay (Albertville 1992)
- 1980-02-17 Swedish cross-country skier Thomas Wassberg earns first of 4 career Olympic gold medals in the 15k at Lake Placid; wins by 0.01s from Finland's Juha Mieto; closest margin of victory ever in Olympic cross-country skiing
- 1980-02-18 East German cross country skier Barbara Petzold wins first of 2 gold medals at the Lake Placid Winter Olympics in women's 10k; also takes gold as part of 4 x 5k relay team
- 1980-02-20 Soviet cross-country skier Nikolay Zimyatov wins his 2nd gold medal of the Lake Placid Winter Olympics as part of the 4 x 10k relay; also wins 30k and 50k gold
- 1980-02-21 East German cross country skier Barbara Petzold wins her second gold medal of the Lake Placid Winter Olympics as part of the women's 4 x 5k relay team; also wins 10k gold
- 1980-02-23 Soviet cross-country skier Nikolay Zimyatov wins his 3rd gold medal of the Lake Placid Winter Olympics when he takes out the 50k event; also wins 30k and relay gold
- 1983-02-20 Roland Liboton becomes world champ cross-country cycling
- 1984-02-09 Finnish cross-country skier Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen wins the 10k gold medal at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics; first of 3 individual medal sweep, also winning 5k and 20k events
- 1984-02-10 Soviet cross-country skier Nikolay Zimyatov wins a career 4th Olympic gold medal when he takes out the 30k event in Sarajevo; 3 gold in Lake Placid 1980
- 1984-02-12 Finnish cross-country skier Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen wins the 5k gold medal at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics; 2nd of 3 individual medal sweep, also winning 10k and 20k events
- 1984-02-13 Swedish cross country skier Gunde Svan wins 15k event, the first of 2 gold medals at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics; also wins 4 x 10k relay gold
- 1984-02-16 Swedish cross country skier Gunde Svan takes his 2nd gold medal of the Sarajevo Winter Olympics in the 4 x 10k relay; also wins 15k gold
- 1984-02-16 Swedish cross country skier Thomas Wassberg wins 2nd career gold medal in 4 x 10k relay at Sarajevo Winter Olympics; 2nd of 4 career gold; 15k Lake Placid (1980), 50k Sarajevo, relay Calgary (1988)
- 1984-02-18 Finnish cross-country skier Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen wins the 20k gold medal at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics; sweeps all 3 individual events, also winning 5k and 10k events
- 1984-02-19 Swedish cross country skier Thomas Wassberg wins 50k event at the Sarajevo Winter Olympics; his second gold of the Games (4 x 10k relay) and 3rd of his career (15k Lake Placid 1980)
- 2014-02-13 Polish cross country skier Justyna Kowalczyk follows her Vancouver (2010) Olympic women's 30k classical title with a gold medal in the 10k classical in Sochi
- 2014-02-14 Swiss cross country skier Dario Cologna wins his 2nd gold medal of the Sochi Winter Olympics in the 15k classical; also wins 30k skiathlon
- 2014-02-22 Norway sweeps the medals in the women's 30k cross country skiing at the Sochi Winter Olympics; Marit Bjørgen wins her 6th career gold ahead of teammates Therese Johaug and Kristin Størmer Steira
- 2014-02-23 Russia sweeps the medals in the men's 50k cross country skiing at the Sochi Winter Olympics; Alexander Legkov wins gold ahead of teammates Maxim Vylegzhanin and Ilia Chernousov
- 2018-02-10 Swedish cross country skier Charlotte Kalla wins 3rd career Olympic gold medal in the 15k skiathlon in Pyeongchang; also wins 10k freestyle gold in Vancouver (2010) and 4 x 5k relay in Sochi (2014)
- 2018-02-11 Norway sweeps the medals in the Olympic 30k cross country skiathlon at Pyeongchang; Simen Hegstad Krüger wins gold ahead of teammates Martin Johnsrud Sundby & Hans Christer Holund
- 2018-02-16 Swiss cross country skier Dario Cologna wins 4th career Olympic gold medal in the 15k freestyle in Pyeongchang; wins event in Vancouver (2010), and 15k classical & 30k skiathlon in Sochi (2014)
- 2018-02-17 10k freestyle cross country champion Ragnhild Haga and 30k classical winner Marit Bjørgen win their 2nd Olympic gold medal in Pyeongchang as part of Norway's 4 x 5k relay team
- 2018-02-21 Norwegian cross country skiers Martin Johnsrud Sundby, Johannes Høsflot & Klæbo win their 2nd Olympic gold medals in Pyeongchang in the men's team sprint freestyle; trio also wins gold in 4 x 10k relay
- 2018-02-21 Winter Olympics: Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall become the first Americans in history to win a cross country gold medal (team sprint)
- 2018-02-24 After taking gold in the Olympic team sprint in Sochi (2014), Finnish cross country skier Iivo Niskanen wins the 50k classical event in Pyeongchang
- 2018-02-25 Norwegian cross-country skier Marit Bjørgen wins gold in women's 30k at Pyeongchang Winter Olympics; brings her total Games medal haul to 15, most won by any athlete in Winter Games history
- 2018-02-25 Winter Olympics: Marit Bjoergen (Norway) becomes the most successful winter athlete of all time (15 medals) with gold in the 30k cross country
- 2022-02-16 Johannes Høsflot Klæbo teams with Erik Valnes to win the men's team sprint for Norway and clinch the cross country freestyle sprint double at the Beijing Winter Olympics
- 2022-02-19 Alexander Bolshunov, representing Russian Olympic Committee, wins men's 50k freestyle cross country gold in Beijing to become only 2nd man to achieve 30k/50k double at a Winter Olympics
- 2022-02-20 Therese Johaug of Norway wins women's 30 kilometre freestyle cross-country for the individual golden trifecta (10k, 15k, 30k) at the Beijing Winter Olympics; her fourth career Olympic gold medal
Birthdays in Sport
- 1873-03-05 Olav Bjaaland, Norwegian explorer and cross-country skier (d. 1961)
- 1875-06-15 Herman Smith-Johannsen, Norwegian cross-country skier who introduced sport to North America, born in Horten, Norway (d. 1987)
- 1908-02-03 Oddbjørn Hagen, Norwegian nordic skier (Olympic gold cross country individual 1936; World C'ship gold 1934, 35), born in Ytre Rendal, Norway (d. 1983)
- 1917-07-24 Simon Slåttvik, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold 18 km individual 1952), born in Valnesfjord, Norway (d. 2001)
- 1920-05-17 Lydia Wideman, Finnish cross country skier (first female cross-country Olympic medalist, gold 10k 1952), born in Vippula, Finland (d. 2019)
- 1924-12-14 Siiri Rantanen, Finnish cross country skier (Olympic gold 3 × 5k relay 1956, bronze 1960; bronze 10k 1952), born in Tohmajärvi, North Karelia, Finland (d. 2023)
- 1925-01-04 Veikko Hakulinen, Finnish cross country skier (Olympic gold 1952, 56, 60), born in Kurkijoki, Finland (d. 2003)
- 1927-07-15 Håkon Brusveen, Norwegian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 15 km, silver 4 × 10 km relay 1960), born in Vingrom, Norway (d. 2021)
- 1929-02-10 Hallgeir Brenden, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold 1952, 56), born in Trysil, Norway (d. 2007)
- 1930-11-11 Alevtina Kolchina, Russian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 3×5km relay 1964, silver 1956, bronze 1968; bronze 5k 1964, 68), born in Pavlovsk village, Russia (d. 2022)
- 1930-11-18 Sonja Edström-Ruthström, Swedish cross-country skier (Olympic gold 3 × 5k relay 1960), born in Luleå, Sweden (d. 2020)
- 1932-01-07 Tormod Knutsen, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold individual 1964, silver 1960), born in Eidsvoll, Norway (d. 2021)
- 1937-02-05 Gaston Roelants, Belgian world cross-country champion
- 1937-08-20 George Thoma, German cross country ski jumper (Olympic gold 1960), born in Newstadt, Germany
- 1938-07-02 John McDonnell, American track, cross country coach (University of Arkansas 1972–2008; 40 x NCAA C'ships; 8 x NCAA Triple Crown; 30 x NCAA coach of the year), born in County Mayo, Ireland (d. 2021)
- 1938-09-17 Francisco Aritmendi, Spanish athlete (International Cross Country Championships 1964), born in Cogolludo, Spain (d. 2020)
- 1939-01-17 Toini Gustafson, Swedish cross country skier (Olympic gold 5k/10k 1968), born in Suomussalmi, Finland
- 1939-02-15 Ole Ellefsæter, Norwegian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 50km & 4×10km relay 1968; World C'ship gold 4×10km relay 1966), born in Furnes, Norway (d. 2022)
- 1939-11-11 Claudia Boyarskikh, Soviet cross country skier (5 Olympic gold 1964, 1968), born in Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Russia (d. 2009)
- 1941-02-01 Franco Nones, Italian cross country skier (Olympic gold 30k 1968; first non-Scandinavian and Soviet/Russian male to win Olympic cross-country gold), born in Castello-Molina di Fiemme, Italy
- 1942-04-29 Galina Kulakova, Soviet nordic skier (Olympic-3 golds-1972), born in Logachi, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
- 1943-04-06 Gerhard Grimmer, German cross-country skier (World C'ship gold GDR 50km, 4×10km relay 1974), born in Katharinaberg, Czech Republic (d. 2023)
- 1944-04-26 Martha Rockwell, American cross-country skier (Mount Washington), born in Providence, Rhode Island
- 1951-06-24 Ivar Formo, Norwegian 50K cross country skier (Olympic gold 1976)
- 1952-02-29 Raisa Smetanina, Soviet cross country skier (Olympic gold 10k & 4x5k relay 1976; 10k 1980; 4x5k relay 1992), born in Mokhcha, Russia
- 1952-07-08 Ulrich Wehling, German cross country skier (Olympic gold - Nordic combined 1972, 1976, 1980; World C'ship gold 1974), born in Halle an der Saale, Germany
Grete Waitz (1953-2011)
1953-10-01 Norwegian long distance athlete (9 x NYC Marathon titles; World C'ship gold 1983; 5 x gold World Cross Country; WR x 4), born in Oslo, Norway
Nikolay Zimyatov (68 years old)
1955-06-28 Soviet-Russian cross-country skier (5 Olympic golds 1980 & 84), born in Moscow, Soviet Union
- 1955-08-20 Ned Overend, American mountain bike racer (World C'ship gold cross-country 1990, bronze 1991), born in Taipei, Taiwan
- 1955-09-10 Marja-Liisa Hämäläinen, Finnish cross country skier (3 Olympic gold 1984), born in Simpele, Finland
- 1955-10-04 Carmen Valero, Spanish athlete (IAAF World Cross Country C'ship gold 1976, 77; bronze 1975), born in Castelserás, Spain (d. 2024)
- 1956-03-27 Thomas Wassberg, Swedish cross country skier (4 Olympic gold 1980, 84, 88), born in Lennartsfors, Värmland, Sweden
- 1958-08-01 Tor Håkon Holte, Norwegian cross country skier, born in Drammen, Norway
- 1960-10-14 John Aalberg, US cross country skier (Olympics 1994), born in Orland, Norway
- 1962-01-12 Gunde Svan, Swedish cross country skier (4 Olympic gold 1984, 88), born in Järna, Sweden
- 1963-09-09 Leslie Thompson, American cross country skier (Olympics 1994), born in Burlington, Vermont
- 1965-06-01 Larisa Lazutina, Russian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 4×5 km relay 1994, 3 x gold 1998; 10 x gold World C'ships), born in Kondopoga, Russia
- 1965-11-11 Ruthie Matthes, American bicycle racer (World Cross-Country Mountain Bike C'ship gold 1991), born in Sun Valley Idaho
- 1965-12-26 Ben Husaby, American cross country skier (Olympics 1994), born in Eden Prairie, Minnesota
- 1966-03-08 Laura McCabe, cross country skier (Olympics 1994)
- 1969-06-21 Gabriella Paruzzi, Italian cross country skier (Olympic gold 30k classical 2002; World Cup gold women's overall 2004), born in Udine, Italy
- 1969-09-27 Laura Wilson, cross country skier (Olympics 1994), born in Utica, New York
- 1970-01-06 Kerrin Petty, Swedish-American cross country skier (Olympics 1994), born in Townshend, Vermont
- 1970-02-17 Tommy Moe, American nordic skier (Olympic-gold/silver-1994), born in Anchorage, Alaska
- 1970-09-29 Luke Bodensteiner, American cross country skier (Olympics 1994), born in Iowa City, Iowa
- 1970-10-14 Nina Kemppel, cross country skier (Olympics 1994), born in Anchorage, Alaska
- 1974-01-12 Tor Arne Hetland, Norwegian cross-country skier, born in Stavanger, Norway
- 1974-08-01 Beckie Scott, Canadian cross-country skiing athlete, born in Vegreville, Alberta, Canada
- 1975-04-04 Thobias Fredriksson, Swedish cross-country skier, born in Dals Rostock, Sweden
- 1976-04-10 Sara Renner, Canadian cross-country skier, born in Golden, British Columbia, Canada
- 1977-02-23 Kristina Šmigun, Estonian cross-country skier, born in Tartu, Estonia
- 1977-04-02 Per Elofsson, Swedish cross-country skier (World C'ship gold x 2 2001; 2003; Olympic bronze 10k + 10k classical 2002), born in Röbäck, Sweden
- 1979-07-14 Axel Teichmann, German cross-country skier, born in Saalburg-Ebersdorf, East Germany
- 1980-03-21 Marit Bjørgen, Norwegian cross-country skier, 15 Olympic medals, 18 World Championship medals, born in Trondheim, Norway
- 1982-06-11 Eldar Rønning, Norwegian cross-country skier (World C'ship gold 2007, 09, 11, 13 4×10km relay), born in Levanger, Norway
Kenenisa Bekele (41 years old)
1982-06-13 Ethiopian athlete (Olympic gold 10,000m 2004, 08; 5,000m 2008; World C'ship gold 10,000m 2003, 05, 07, 09; 5,000m 2009; 11 x World Cross Country gold), born in Bekoji, Ethiopia
- 1983-01-19 Justyna Kowalczyk, Polish cross-country skier (Olympic gold 30k classical 2010, 10k classical 2014), born in Limanowa, Poland
- 1983-11-19 Chandra Crawford, Canadian cross-country skier (Olympic Gold 2006), born in Canmore, Alberta
- 1987-01-22 Astrid Jacobsen, Norwegian cross-country skier, born in Trondheim, Norway
- 1988-05-01 Teodor Peterson, Swedish cross-country skier (Olympic silver individual sprint, bronze team sprint 2014), born in Umeå, Sweden
- 1988-06-25 Therese Johaug, Norwegian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 4 x 5k relay 2010, 10k, 15k, 30k 2022; 14 x World C'ship gold), born in Os, Røros, Norway
- 1994-12-28 Jonna Sundling, Swedish cross-country skier (Olympic gold women's individual sprint 2022; World C'ship gold individual/team sprint 2021), born in Umeå, Sweden
- 1996-09-12 Joshua Cheptegei, Ugandan long-distance runner (5,000m WR 12:35.35; World C'ship gold 10,000m 2019; World Cross Country gold 2019), born in Kapsewui, Uganda
- 1996-10-22 Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, Norwegian cross-country skier (5x Olympic gold 2018, 22; 6 x World C'ship gold), born in Oslo, Norway
- 1996-12-31 Alexander Bolshunov, Russian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 30k, 50k, 4 x 10k relay 2022; Tour de Ski 2021, 22), born in Podyvotye, Russia
Deaths in Sport
- 1934-12-12 Thorleif Haug, Norwegian Nordic skier (b. 1894)
- 1983-06-25 Oddbjørn Hagen, Norwegian nordic skier (Olympic gold cross country individual 1936; World C'ship gold 1934, 35), dies at 75
- 1987-01-05 Herman Smith-Johannsen, Norwegian-born Canadian cross-country skier (b. 1875)
- 2001-05-07 Simon Slåttvik, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold 18 km individual 1952), dies at 83
- 2003-10-24 Veikko Hakulinen, Finnish cross country skier (Olympic gold 1952, 56, 60), dies in car accident at 78
- 2005-01-10 Kalevi Hämäläinen, Finnish cross country skier (b. 1932)
- 2007-09-21 Hallgeir Brenden, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold 1952, 56), dies at 78
- 2009-12-11 Claudia Boyarskikh, Soviet cross country skier (5 Olympic gold 1964, 1968), dies at 70
- 2010-09-07 Amar Garibović, Serbian Cross Country Skier (b. 1991)
Grete Waitz (1953-2011)
2011-04-19 Norwegian long distance athlete (9 x NYC Marathon titles; World C'ship gold 1983; 5 x gold World Cross Country; WR x 4), dies of cancer at 57
- 2019-04-13 Lydia Wideman, Finnish cross country skier (first female cross-country Olympic medalist, gold 10k 1952), dies at 98
- 2020-04-12 Francisco Aritmendi, Spanish athlete (International Cross Country Championships 1964), dies of COVID-19 at 81
- 2020-10-15 Sonja Edström-Ruthström, Swedish cross-country skier (Olympic gold 3 × 5k relay 1960), dies at 89
- 2021-02-23 Tormod Knutsen, Norwegian cross country skier (Olympic gold individual 1964, silver 1960), dies at 89
- 2021-04-21 Håkon Brusveen, Norwegian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 15 km, silver 4 × 10 km relay 1960), dies at 93
- 2021-06-07 John McDonnell, American track, cross country coach (University of Arkansas 1972–2008; 40 x NCAA C'ships; 8 x NCAA Triple Crown; 30 x NCAA coach of the year), dies at 82
- 2022-03-01 Alevtina Kolchina, Russian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 3×5km relay 1964, silver 1956, bronze 1968; bronze 5k 1964, 68), dies at 91
- 2022-10-18 Ole Ellefsæter, Norwegian cross-country skier (Olympic gold 50km & 4×10km relay 1968; World C'ship gold 4×10km relay 1966), dies from cardiac arrest at 83
- 2023-05-05 Siiri Rantanen, Finnish cross country skier (Olympic gold 3 × 5k relay 1956, bronze 1960; bronze 10k 1952), dies at 98
- 2023-10-09 Gerhard Grimmer, German cross-country skier (World C'ship gold GDR 50km, 4×10km relay 1974), dies at 80
- 2023-10-19 Anfisa Reztsova, Russian biathlete (Olympic gold 7.5k sprint 1992, 4×7.5k relay 1994) and cross-country skier (Olympic gold 4×5k relay 1988; World C'ship gold 4×5k relay 1985, 87, 99), dies at 58
- 2024-01-02 Carmen Valero, Spanish athlete (IAAF World Cross Country C'ship gold 1976, 77; bronze 1975), dies from a stroke at 68