Tom Kelly’s 50-year cross country legacy

The Cross Country Skier Podcast

Tom Kelly’s career is rooted in cross country skiing. After covering ski jumping, Kelly found himself working for entrepreneur Tony Wise in the mid ’70s, promoting the American Birkebeiner and World Cup cross country races in Telemark, Wisconsin. Kelly’s 30-plus year tenure as vice president of communications with the U.S. Ski Team culminated trackside with the historic Olympic gold medal of Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall at the PyeongChang Olympic Games. That year, he retired from the U.S. Ski Team and was recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee with its Building Dreams Award before being inducted into the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Hall of Fame in 2019. Even in retirement, he’s remained active in Olympic sport and as one of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team’s biggest fans.

This episode of the Cross Country Skier Podcast is possible thanks to the support of Madshus Nordic Skis. It’s also possible thanks to support from our listeners—if you like what you hear and would like to hear more, please make a contribution.