Cross country skiing has cemented itself as one of the most gruelling sports in Winter Olympic history.
It is one of the oldest winter sports and away from competition is also a common holiday past time in Nordic countries. In remote areas, it can also be used as a method of transportation for the public.
With the sport set to return to the Olympic stage and Milano Cortina 2026, here is everything you need to know about its competitive format.
When did cross country skiing join the Olympics?
Cross- ountry skiing was one of the original sports at the very first Olympic Winter Games at Chamonix 1924, although a women’s event did not appear until Oslo 1952.
The sport is part of the Nordic Skiing family which also includes biathlon, ski jumping and Nordic combined.
Possibly the purest of the four, cross country is, put simply, a running race held on skis in which competitors propel themselves across the snow using poles and skis.
Due to the fact that every major muscle group is used, it is one of the most difficult endurance sports in the world and requires supreme fitness.
What are the different techniques of cross country skiing?
There are two different types of cross country skiing – freestyle and classical.
Freestyle skiing – also called skate skiing – means you generate speed on your skis by using the same motion as you would on roller blades or ice skates. This method is faster but it generally is more difficult to learn.
Classical skiing is essentially walking with a glide between steps. To generate speed, you kick your front foot backwards and propel your other foot forward. This method is slower .
What cross country events are at the Olympics?
There are 12 cross country events at Milano Cortina 2026, with six events each for men and women.
These include:
10km Interval Start Free: Athletes race 10km against the clock, starting one competitor at a time in 30 second intervals. The athlete with the fastest overall time wins.
Skiathlon: Skiers race 10km using the classic technique before switching technique and skiing 10km in freestyle. This is a mass start event meaning that all competitors start the race at the same time and the first athlete to cross the finish line wins gold.
Sprint Classic: The 2026 sprint course sits at just less than a mile long (1,585 meters) and will use a knockout progression format. In the qualifying round, the fastest-30 skiers progress to elimination rounds with times not carried over. There are five quarterfinals and two semifinals, each of which includes six athletes. The winner is the first athlete to cross the finish line in the final.
Team Sprint: Using the same course as the individual sprint, the men's and women's team sprints will also use a knockout progression format. Teams consist of two athletes, who alternate skiing one leg at a time. In qualification, there are two laps (one for each team member), with teams going off at an interval of 30 seconds. The final will see the top 15 teams complete a six lap course three for each team member) with the team whose anchor leg crosses the finish line first declared the winner.
4x7.5km Relay: A relay team is made up of four athletes, with each skier racing a 7.5km leg. All athletes skiing the first leg of the relay for their respective teams start together with the winners those who cross the finish line first.
Mass Start: Athletes all start together and race 50km to the finish.
What are the rules for relay events in cross country skiing?
In cross country skiing, relays consist of four legs: the first two are classical and the final two are free technique legs.
During the relay, the next skier begins when the current racer 'exchanges' with the next. The exchange occurs when the current skier taps the next skier on their team with their hand while both are in a specified relay exchange zone.
Any relay exchange infractions will result in a minimum 30 second penalty.
What actions lead to disqualification in cross country skiing?
Like any sport, athletes must adhere to certain rules on the course.
In individual start races, if an athlete false starts by more than three seconds, they will not be called back to restart the race but instead can receive a penalty.
In a mass start event, if an athlete false starts, the whole field will be called back.
There are several ways an athlete can be disqualified in cross country skiing, including:
Incorrectly going around a course
Interfering with another competitor, accidentally or not
Using the wrong technique in a race
How is wax used in cross country skiing?
Many athletes will use wax on their skis on race day to manage the weather and snow conditions.
There are two wax types commonly used on cross country skis: kick wax, which is used to increase friction during classic races, and glide wax which decreases friction when using the freestyle technique.
What is Team GB's history in cross country skiing?
Team GB is yet to win a medal at the Olympic Winter Games in cross country, but have seen a steady resurgence in competition in recent years.
At Vancouver 2010, Andrew Musgrave, Andrew Young and Fiona Hughes became the first British representatives in the sport since Dave Belam competed at Lillehammer 1994.
Musgrave and Young have now both competed at four Olympic Games, with Musgrave finishing a superb seventh place in the men’s 30km skiathlon at PyeongChang 2018.
Sportsbeat 2025