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Olympian Jon Engen Passes

By U.S. Ski & Snowboard
May, 1 2018
Jon Engen
Jon Engen (left) is recognized in 2014 by U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chairman Dexter Paine for his years of service to cross country skiing.

PARK CITY, Utah (May 1, 2018) – Olympian and long-time U.S. Ski & Snowboard Cross Country Sport Committee Chair Jon Engen passed away last week after a battle with cancer. Engen was a three-time Olympian, one of the rare athletes to compete in both cross country and biathlon, and a passionate supporter of both sports in the United States.

Originally from Norway, Engen emigrated to the U.S. to ski for Montana State University, graduating in 1983 with an engineering degree. He made his first Olympic team in 1988, competing in cross country, and followed that up with two more Olympic appearances in 1992 and 1993 as a biathlete.

“The whole U.S. Biathlon family is saddened by the news of Jon’s passing,” said U.S. Biathlon President and CEO Max Cobb. “He was a great competitor and a force for development within both the biathlon and the cross country skiing communities as one of the few individuals to compete for Team USA at the Olympics in both sports. His dry wit and enthusiasm were legendary. Jon will be greatly missed.”

Engen served as U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s Cross Country Sport Committee Chair from 2006 to 2014. He was involved in every aspect of the sport - as an athlete, coach, industry representative and sport leader - and is regarded as one of the committee’s most impactful leaders. He was inducted into the Sun Valley Ski Hall of Fame in 2014 and will be honored this week at the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chairman’s Awards dinner with the Al Merrill Award for his service to nordic skiing in America.

“Much of the success we are enjoying now in cross country stems from the period when Jon’s committee and community leadership played a major role in the growth of the sport in America,” said U.S. Ski & Snowboard Chief of Sport Luke Bodensteiner. “Most of all, though, he was just an amazing, kind individual who just wanted to help the sport find success in America.”

Services for Engen are being planned for this summer.