Kikkan Randall
Encyclopedia
Kikkan Randall is an American cross-country skier from Anchorage, Alaska
. She is the niece of former cross-country skiing Olympians Betsy Haines (1980) and her brother, Chris Haines (1976). She won the silver medal in the individual sprint at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec
, becoming the first American woman to medal in cross country skiing at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
.
Randall made her Olympic debut as a 19-year-old at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City and finished 44th in the inaugural Olympic individual sprint. In January 2006, Randall returned to Soldier Hollow, Utah, the site of the 2002 Olympic cross-country competition, and won national titles in the 5-kilometer freestyle, the 10-km classical and the sprint. At the 2005 World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, she finished 30th in the individual sprint. Randall's sixth-place finish in the sprint at the 2001 Junior World Championships was the best ever result by an American woman.
At the 2006 Winter Olympics
, Randall finished ninth in the Olympic Sprint, the best ever Olympic result in cross-country skiing by an American woman. Shortly thereafter, she finished fifth in a World Cup sprint. On January 21, 2007, she captured bronze in the women's 1.2-kilometer sprint in Rybinsk, Russia, the best ever cross-country World Cup result by an American woman.
Randall lived in Salt Lake while her mother, Deborah, attended law school at the University of Utah. In the mid-1980s, she moved with her mother and father, Ronn, to Anchorage, Alaska where both her younger siblings, Tanner and Kalli were born. In Anchorage, Randall works at Skinny Raven Sports, a running apparel shop. Fellow Olympic cross-country teammate James Southam also works at the store. The flexibility of the job allows time for both athletes to train and race. Randall has taken classes at Alaska Pacific University
. Prior to college, she won 10 state titles at East Anchorage High School
— seven in track and three in cross-country running.
It was announced on January 19, 2010 that Randall qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics
, where she earned her best finish of sixth in the team sprint and her best individual finish of eighth in the individual sprint event.
Anchorage, Alaska
Anchorage is a unified home rule municipality in the southcentral part of the U.S. state of Alaska. It is the northernmost major city in the United States...
. She is the niece of former cross-country skiing Olympians Betsy Haines (1980) and her brother, Chris Haines (1976). She won the silver medal in the individual sprint at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2009 in Liberec
Liberec
Liberec is a city in the Czech Republic. Located on the Lusatian Neisse and surrounded by the Jizera Mountains and Ještěd-Kozákov Ridge, it is the fifth-largest city in the Czech Republic....
, becoming the first American woman to medal in cross country skiing at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
FIS Nordic World Ski Championships
The FIS Nordic World Ski Championships have been held in various numbers and types of events since 1925 for men and since 1954 for women. Championship events include nordic skiing's three disciplines: cross-country skiing, ski jumping, and nordic combined...
.
Randall made her Olympic debut as a 19-year-old at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City and finished 44th in the inaugural Olympic individual sprint. In January 2006, Randall returned to Soldier Hollow, Utah, the site of the 2002 Olympic cross-country competition, and won national titles in the 5-kilometer freestyle, the 10-km classical and the sprint. At the 2005 World Championships in Oberstdorf, Germany, she finished 30th in the individual sprint. Randall's sixth-place finish in the sprint at the 2001 Junior World Championships was the best ever result by an American woman.
At the 2006 Winter Olympics
2006 Winter Olympics
The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...
, Randall finished ninth in the Olympic Sprint, the best ever Olympic result in cross-country skiing by an American woman. Shortly thereafter, she finished fifth in a World Cup sprint. On January 21, 2007, she captured bronze in the women's 1.2-kilometer sprint in Rybinsk, Russia, the best ever cross-country World Cup result by an American woman.
Randall lived in Salt Lake while her mother, Deborah, attended law school at the University of Utah. In the mid-1980s, she moved with her mother and father, Ronn, to Anchorage, Alaska where both her younger siblings, Tanner and Kalli were born. In Anchorage, Randall works at Skinny Raven Sports, a running apparel shop. Fellow Olympic cross-country teammate James Southam also works at the store. The flexibility of the job allows time for both athletes to train and race. Randall has taken classes at Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University
Alaska Pacific University is a small liberal arts college located in Anchorage, Alaska, that emphasizes experiential and active learning...
. Prior to college, she won 10 state titles at East Anchorage High School
East Anchorage High School
East Anchorage High School is a public high school in Anchorage in the U.S. state of Alaska. It is attended by approximately 2300 students...
— seven in track and three in cross-country running.
It was announced on January 19, 2010 that Randall qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
, where she earned her best finish of sixth in the team sprint and her best individual finish of eighth in the individual sprint event.
Miscellany
- Became first American woman to win a cross country World Cup with her Dec. 16, 2007 sprint win in Rybinsk, Russia.
- Kikkan won her first national title in the 1.5km Sprint at the 2002 U.S. Championships, qualifying for the Olympic team. For her win, she received the inaugural Most Outstanding U-23 Racer award.
- Randall is one of the most talented female skiers to come out of Alaska since fellow Olympian Nina KemppelNina KemppelNina Kemppel is an American cross country skier who competed from 1992 to 2003. Her best World Cup finish was 14th twice, both earned in 2001....
. - Randall mixes studies at Alaska Pacific University with skiing for the APU Nordic Ski Center program run by former national level ski racer, Erik Flora.
- She is a former state high school champion in cross country running and the last Alaska state speed-skiing champion.