U.S. Earns First-Ever Gold Medal in Cross-Country Skiing The two-person relay event was won by U.S. cross-country skiiers Kikkan Randal and Jessica Diggins on Wednesday morning. Randall crossed the finish line before Diggins, who beat Swede competitor Stina Nilsson at the finish line by 19 seconds. Jessica Diggins, (Time) The women shocked the world and ended a dry spell for the U.S. in the cross-country arena. The U.S. won a silver medal back in 1976 thanks to cross-country skiier Bill Koch.