None of us saw it coming. Most pundits predicted cross-country skier Kikkan Randall would medal today at Sochi—she would’ve been the first American to do so since Bill Koch took silver in 1976. by five-hundredths of a second.
She led most of the quarterfinal race but was overtaken in the final meters by German and Norwegian skiers, the . Italy’s Gaia Vuerich snatched third, clocking in at 2:35.65, and Randall at 2:35.70.
Five-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,” Randall told . “I’m sure it’ll sink in and sting for a while, [but] I gave it my all.”
No reason for Randall to pack up and go home, though. She’s a strong competitor in the team sprint (semifinals are February 19) and the .