Gus Schumacher (skier)

Last updated
Gus Schumacher
2020-12-19 Men's Prolog at FIS Cross-Country World Cup 2020-21 in Dresden by Sandro Halank-343.jpg
Schumacher in 2020
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Born (2000-07-25) July 25, 2000 (age 23)
Madison, Wisconsin, United States
Ski clubAlaska Winter Stars [1]
World Cup career
Seasons4 – (2019, 2021–present)
Starts71
Podiums1
Wins1
Overall titles0 – (15th in 2024 )
Discipline titles0
Medal record
Men's cross-country skiing
Representing Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States
Junior World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Lahti 4 × 5 km relay
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2020 Oberwiesenthal 10 km classical
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2020 Oberwiesenthal 4 × 5 km relay
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2018 Goms 4 × 5 km relay
Updated on 18 February 2024.

August "Gus" Schumacher (born July 25, 2000) is an American cross-country skier. [2] In 2020, Schumacher became the first American to win a gold medal in an individual race at the Junior World Ski Championships. [3] He competed in the 30 kilometre skiathlon at the 2022 Winter Olympics. [4] Schumacher won the Men's 10 km freestyle race at the 2024 Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis on February 18, 2024. [5] His win marked the first time an American male skier had won an individual distance event since Bill Koch in 1983. [6]

Contents

Early life

Schumacher was born in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. [7] He learned to ski as soon as he could walk, using strap-on skis in his backyard. [8] By the time he reached middle school, Schumacher had begun to show an interest in competitive racing. [9] After moving through the ranks with the Anchorage Junior Nordic League, he joined the Alaska Winter Stars program. [10] He graduated from Service High School in 2018 and is currently enrolled as a part-time student at the University of Alaska Anchorage in pursuit of a Civil Engineering degree. [11] [9]

Athletic career

High school and juniors

As a high school student, Schumacher trained with the Alaska Winter Stars. He swept both individual races at the Alaska state high school championships to claim the title of Skimeister, awarded to the skier with the best combined times, in both 2017 and 2018. [12] [13]

From 2015 to 2019, Schumacher competed at the Cross Country Junior National Championships with the Alaskan divisional team.

World Cup

As a 23-year old, Schumacker won the men's 10 kilometer final at the 2024 Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis. He became the youngest American to win a World Cup cross-country skiing race, the first American man to win any World Cup race since Simi Hamilton in 2013, and the first American man to win a distance race since Bill Koch in 1983. [14] [15] [6]

While on break from the World Cup ski tour, Schumacher competed in the American Birkebeiner in Wisconsin, and won the men's 50km freestyle race on February 24, 2024. [16]

Cross-country skiing results

All results are sourced from the International Ski Federation (FIS). [2]

Olympic Games

 Year  Age  15 km 
 individual 		 30 km 
 skiathlon 		 50 km 
 mass start 		 Sprint  4 × 10 km 
 relay 		 Team 
 sprint 
2022 21 48 39 — [a] — 9 —

aDistance reduced to 30 km due to weather conditions.

World Championships

 Year  Age  15 km 
 individual 		 30 km 
 skiathlon 		 50 km 
 mass start 		 Sprint  4 × 10 km 
 relay 		 Team 
 sprint 
2021 20 51 — 29 — 8 14
2023 22 19 38 28 — 7 —

World Cup

Season standings

 Season  Age Discipline standingsSki Tour standings
OverallDistanceSprintU23Nordic
Opening		Tour de
Ski		World Cup
Final
2019 18NCNCNCNC——52
2021 20302565Silver medal icon.svg3218—
2022 217945NC13—DNF—
2023 226243NC9—35—
2024 23151627——DNF—

Individual podiums

  • 1 victory – (1 WC)
  • 1 podium – (1 WC)
No.SeasonDateLocationRaceLevelPlace
1 2023–24 18 February 2024 Flag of the United States.svg Minneapolis, USA - Stifel Loppet Cup 10 km Individual FWorld Cup1st

Political activity

On March 20, 2024, Schumacher testified at a U.S. Senate hearing of the Committee on the Budget on the topic of "Recreation at Risk: The Nature of Climate Costs." [17] In 2022 he lobbied Congress as a member of Protect Our Winters' Athlete Alliance. [18]

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References

  1. ↑ "Gus Schumacher". usskiandsnowboard.org. Retrieved 9 February 2022.
  2. 1 2 "SCHUMACHER Gus". FIS-Ski. International Ski Federation. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  3. ↑ Bragg, Beth (March 5, 2020). "Anchorage's Gus Schumacher skis to historic gold medal at World Junior Championships". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  4. ↑ "Gus Schumacher". Olympics.com. Retrieved 8 February 2022.
  5. ↑ "2023–24 FIS Cross-Country World Cup", Wikipedia, 2024-02-19, retrieved 2024-02-21
  6. 1 2 "Gus Schumacher Rides the Minneapolis Wave—American Wins on American Soil! – FasterSkier.com". fasterskier.com. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  7. ↑ "Under 23 Questions: Gus Schumacher – FasterSkier.com". fasterskier.com. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  8. ↑ Sjong, Austin (2 February 2022). "Athlete of the Week: Team USA's Gus Schumacher". alaskasnewssource.com. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  9. 1 2 "About". Gus Schumacher. Retrieved 2022-02-15.
  10. ↑ "The Phenom Next Door: Gus Schumacher Looks to Lahti – Nordic Insights". nordicinsights.news. 30 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  11. ↑ "Gus Schumacher". Team USA. 15 February 2022. Archived from the original on February 2, 2022.
  12. ↑ "Nordic Ski Records — Alaska School Activities Association". asaa.org. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  13. ↑ Tunseth, Matt (February 23, 2020). "West Valley, Service skiers earn one of Alaska's most coveted titles: Skimeister". Anchorage Daily News. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  14. ↑ Harkins, Courtney (February 18, 2024). "Magic in Minneapolis: Schumacher Wins, Diggins Third". U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Gus Schumacher makes U.S. cross-country skiing history in Minneapolis". NBC Sports . February 18, 2024. Retrieved February 18, 2024.
  16. ↑ Kentch, Gavin (February 24, 2024). "Jessie Diggins, Gus Schumacher Win 50th American Birkebeiner". Nordic Insights. Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Recreation at Risk: The Nature of Climate Costs | U.S. Senate Committee On The Budget". www.budget.senate.gov. Retrieved 2024-03-23.
  18. ↑ Sullivan, Stacie (2022-05-19). "Olympians Hit the Nation's Capitol for Lobby Day". Protect Our Winters. Retrieved 2024-03-23.


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