In the first World Cup weekend on American soil in 23 years, it was precisely 23-year-old Gus Schumacher who took his first ever World Cup victory.
– The fact that everyone is here makes it feel like it represents something bigger. Thank you very much to everyone who has come here.
– There are bigger things ahead, and this is the first of many, he says, choking back tears after the 10 kilometers of free technique.
The winner was interviewed by FIS in an interview that was shown on the big screen in the stadium:
– Thank you very much, Minneapolis!
Schumacher almost shouted into the microphone like a rock star while looking at the audience around him.
– This is better than anything I could have imagined. It means a lot to do it at home. That means everything, he says in the Viaplay interview a little later.
IN TEARS: Gus Schumacher was in tears in the finish area when he realized he was going to win on American soil.
Photo: TV 3
– It is completely incredible. It’s madness in Minneapolis, exclaims Torgeir Bjørn on NRK’s radio broadcast.
– You just have to take off your hat and sunglasses and everything. Jessie Diggins and the others lift Gus Schumacher onto a golden chair. Was this what international cross-country skiing needed? This is simply a shock victory.
The American has three golds from the Junior WC, one individual and two in relay, but he has never topped the podium in a World Cup context as a senior.
To put the performance into context, the 23-year-old from Wisconsin has the following results in the World Cup previously at the same or similar competitions:
21, 16, 19, 14, 32, 25, 29, 38, 51, 9, 14 and 35.
– I was moved to see this. If we ignore the World Cup and the Olympics, I don’t think we’ve seen a stronger moment in the World Cup ever. It’s huge, says Viaplay expert Hans Christer Holund.
NEVER WON: Gus Schumacher (23) had never won a World Cup race. When races were finally organized on American soil again, he made a big splash.
Photo: BILDBYRÅN
– What a huge scam this is, shouted Viaplay expert Niklas Dyrhaug on broadcast when the Norwegians were unable to match the times of the home hope out in the track.
There were wild scenes in the finish area as the 23-year-old’s smile grew wider and wider as Norwegian after Norwegian crossed the finish line with red numbers.
Schumacher took the inside turn on three Norwegians: Harald Østberg Amundsen in second place, Pål Golberg in third – and Johannes Høsflot Klæbo in fourth place, 6.5 seconds behind.
Østberg Amundsen seemed to wish Schumacher the victory.
– It is unbelievable. I thought I’d save my gunpowder on round two and take Gus at the end there. But he really made it big at the end. It’s unbelievably cool that he wins on home ground, he says on Viaplay.
– There is a lot of sportsmanship in the Americans that we Norwegians can learn from. We are mostly trustworthy and boring all over, adds Pål Golberg.
NRK has previously spoken to Nathaniel Herz, who covers cross-country skiing in the USA closely. He confirms that impression Pål Golberg.
– We don’t have a culture for cross-country skiing. Most people who live in the United States live in cities where there is no access to cross-country trails. Traditionally, people have seen it as a weird sport where you sweat and eat waffles.
– The US national team is trying to redefine the sport at the moment and make it more cool.