Brennan first recipient of U.S. Nordic Olympic Women’s Inga Award

Since ladies‘ Cross-Country Skiing was added to the Olympic Winter Games in 1972, a passionate group of 50 American women have been named to Olympic teams. They have come together under the banner of U.S. Nordic Olympic Women (US NOW) to begin recognizing the stars of today with a new award. The Inga Award draws on noted cross country skiing heritage dating back to the 13thcentury.

The Inga Award is named in honour of Inga Varteig, the legendary mother of the Norwegian child prince Haakon IV who was carried to safety on cross-country skis by Birkebeiner soldiers, known for their birch bark leggings, during a civil war in the winter of 1205-06. The first Inga Award was presented to Rosie Brennan during the FIS World Cup Finals in Quebec City to close out the 2019 season. Brennan was honoured during a reunion of women’s Olympians.

Brennan had a career-best season coming back from a bout with mononucleosis that wreaked havoc with her health a year earlier. She was a unanimous selection, being cited for her diligent and patient efforts working back from illness, showing courage, fortitude, grit, determination and raw talent to achieve an extremely high level of success on the international ski racing circuit this season.

“This is extremely special to me,” said an emotional Brennan. “This group is incredibly accomplished and has been through so much. To be recognized by them is incredibly meaningful to me - it means much more than any race result could mean.”

Around 30 of the 50 Olympians attended the first reunion, where they watched current stars like Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen. Leading into the 2018 Olympics, U.S. coach Matt Whitcomb organized a project where current team athletes reached out to those of the past to develop a sense of history. So, for the current team, it was an opportunity to get face-to-face with their own heroes of the past.