Gus Schumacher is about business, the business of winning in *** sport where Scandinavian countries have owned the podium, but he says survival of the fittest is not the golden rule. Schumacher really the face of the American men’s, you know, next generation of skiers. The fittest person does not always win. Sometimes it’s just *** kid from Anchorage with *** will to win. I was *** kid that would not give up. I’d cry when I lost. You know, like I really wanted to be good. Oh boy, Schumacher. No tears, just strength these days. At 25, he has already become the youngest American to win *** World Cup cross-country event, the first US man to win *** World Cup race in *** decade, and the first American man to win *** distance World Cup race since 1983. He credits *** new investment into the sport. It just has taken time to build the development support that we have now, and I thankfully was kind of. In in *** good era for that, now we have these camps for under sixteens and juniors, high schoolers for the nation and for regions, and I think that type of stuff helps *** lot. Hopefully the kind of help that’ll help raise an American flag which has been unfamiliar in cross country territory. I’m excited. No, yeah, I think I’m in the best place I think I’ve ever been. He body wise and mentally, and yeah, I’m just excited. Schumacher is seen as *** medal contender after coming up empty handed in Beijing. That was in 2022, but now *** little older, *** little wiser, and ready for gold. On the road to Milan Cortina, I’m Jason Newton.
Gus Schumacher: A rising star in American cross-country skiing
Updated: 2:55 PM EST Dec 29, 2025
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Gus Schumacher, a 25-year-old cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska, is making significant strides in a sport traditionally dominated by Scandinavian countries, achieving milestones that have raised expectations for Team USA.He will be the first to tell you that he doesn’t like losing. Schumacher says survival of the fittest is not the Golden Rule: “The fittest person does not always win.” He says he has the will to win.”I was a kid that would not give up,” Schumacher said. “I’d cry when I lost, you know, like I really wanted to be good.”He has already become the youngest American to win a World Cup cross-country event. He is also the first U.S. man to win a distance World Cup race since 1983.Schumacher attributes his success to increased investment in the sport.”It’s just taken time to build the development support that we have now. And I, thankfully, was kind of in a good era for that,” he said. “Now we have these camps for under 16s and juniors, high schoolers, for the nation and for regions, and I think that type of stuff helps a lot.”Schumacher is optimistic about his chances at the 2026 Winter Olympics.”I’m excited. I think I’m in the best place I think I’ve ever been, body-wise and mentally. And yeah, I’m just excited. It’s like it’s just fun for me to ski now, and it’s fun for me to ski fast and be able to use my body to that extent. I think it’s super special,” he said.Although Schumacher did not medal in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, his recent World Cup victories have changed expectations as he heads into the Olympic Games.Schumacher is seen as a medal contender, now a little older, a little wiser, and ready for gold.
Gus Schumacher, a 25-year-old cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska, is making significant strides in a sport traditionally dominated by Scandinavian countries, achieving milestones that have raised expectations for Team USA.
He will be the first to tell you that he doesn’t like losing. Schumacher says survival of the fittest is not the Golden Rule: “The fittest person does not always win.” He says he has the will to win.
“I was a kid that would not give up,” Schumacher said. “I’d cry when I lost, you know, like I really wanted to be good.”
He has already become the youngest American to win a World Cup cross-country event. He is also the first U.S. man to win a distance World Cup race since 1983.
Schumacher attributes his success to increased investment in the sport.
“It’s just taken time to build the development support that we have now. And I, thankfully, was kind of in a good era for that,” he said. “Now we have these camps for under 16s and juniors, high schoolers, for the nation and for regions, and I think that type of stuff helps a lot.”
Schumacher is optimistic about his chances at the 2026 Winter Olympics.
“I’m excited. I think I’m in the best place I think I’ve ever been, body-wise and mentally. And yeah, I’m just excited. It’s like it’s just fun for me to ski now, and it’s fun for me to ski fast and be able to use my body to that extent. I think it’s super special,” he said.
Although Schumacher did not medal in the 2022 Beijing Olympics, his recent World Cup victories have changed expectations as he heads into the Olympic Games.
Schumacher is seen as a medal contender, now a little older, a little wiser, and ready for gold.
