Ida Sargent Back, Ready to Race

U.S. Ski Team cross country racer Ida Sargent (Orleans, Vt.) arrived in Seoul, South Korea Saturday ready to start in the upcoming Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang for Team USA. Sargent injured a thumb in a training crash January 27 in Seefeld, Austria. She had surgery on her left thumb but is expected to start in the classic sprint on February 13.

The crash occurred in training before the World Cup freestyle sprint in Seefeld when Sargent and another skier collided. She stayed on the sidelines for that race, then flew to the USA for surgery with Dr. Randy Viola at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo.

"I'm incredibly grateful for the awesome work by Dr. Viola and everyone at the Steadman Clinic and the support from the U.S. Ski Team medical staff," said Sargent. "Getting surgery right away and starting my recovery so quickly has been amazing."

"We don't get many injuries in cross country skiing so we're appreciative that Ida could get back quickly," said Head Coach Chris Grover. "She's an important part of the mix for the classic sprint and we expect her to be a contender."

Sargent arrived in Korea along with the first contingent of her teammates. Others remain training in Seefeld. She expects to be on-snow training with the Olympic Team at the Alpensia Nordic Centre early this week.