Niece of former Olympic nordic skiers Chris Haines and Betsy Haines, Kikkan Randall had Olympic pedigree before she set her first ski on snow. She has continued that Randall family legacy and even put her own stamp on it, rising not only to the Olympic level but enjoying arguably the most impressive career in U.S. Nordic Team history.

In 2013 Randall won five World Cup events, including a team sprint in Quebec with teammate Jessie Diggins. The results earned Randall a first-place finish in the final World Cup sprint standings and third place in the overall standings. The third place finish is the highest ever by a U.S. woman, and Randall’s sprint win gives her two globes in two years. To top it off, Randall, with Jessie Diggins, captured the first-ever team sprint gold for the U.S. women at the World Ski Championships—a benchmark that Randall had set coming into the season.

In addition to the two globes and World Championship title, Randall’s storied career has seen her take home 17 U.S. Championships, 16 podiums in the Stage World Cup, three trips to the Olympics and the highest finish by an individual U.S. woman at the World Championships (2nd in the Sprint FS at Liberec, CZE in 2009). In 2011, she became the first U.S. woman to finish a World Cup circuit in the top three (for sprint) and in 2012 she bested that mark by becoming the first to win a sprint title.

Randall’s career can already be considered the most successful for U.S. Nordic Team women to date, but before the final legacy is forged, the Alaska native would love to be the first U.S. Nordic Team woman to stand on an Olympic podium. All eyes are on Sochi.

KIKKAN SAYS
I was really pumped to win the Globe last year and wanted to keep the momentum going into this year, but when I got the stress fracture in August I had to reduce my training. I thought I might have to change some of my goals for the season. I knew I’d have a shot at World Championships, but I thought it might take part of the season to build up to where I needed to be.

So I wasn’t expecting anything going into the first World Cup races. When I came out of the weekend with my first distance podium and with our relay finishing so well, I really surprised myself.

The big high point was the gold medal [at World Championships] with Jessie, which was such a cool thing and such an important accomplishment because it was the first gold for the team. I’ve known it was possible for a long time, but getting there was a super-special accomplishment.

I was really happy with my third in the overall because it showed that my distance skiing continues to improve, and winning the globe a second time really showed and validated that the first time wasn’t a fluke. So in the end the season surpassed expectations.

FIRST TRACKS
Randall’s family lived in Salt Lake City while her mother attended law school at the University of Utah, but returned to Alaska after her she was born. The niece of two Olympians (Uncle Chris Haines, Mom's brother, was a '76 cross country skier and Aunt Betsy Haines was the first racer on-course in the 1980 5K), she was a first-rate high school runner and turned to skiing as a way to continue training in winter. She quickly became one of the top U.S. junior racers. "It's in my blood,” she said with her trademark high-voltage smile. She balances classes at Alaska Pacific University with her cross country training and serves as a key liaison between the U.S. Ski Team and one of the nation's premier club programs, the Alaska Pacific University Nordic Ski Center.

OFF THE SNOW
Randall is the lead U.S. Ambassador for Fast and Female, a highly successful empowerment workshop program for young girls. The program is reaching hundreds of young girls, with Randall recruiting other elite athletes to share their own experiences with the girls. “I am really passionate about sharing the message of empowerment through sport alongside my good friend and FF Founder Chandra Crawford (Canadian Olympic Champion).” Randall also serves as a highly respected FIS Athlete Representative, playing an active role with the sport’s International governing body.