While most people think of Olympic athletes spending their downtime stretching or strategizing, a surprising number of competitors at the Games have discovered a different way to unwind: knitting.
Among those wielding needles alongside their athletic equipment is Ben Ogden, the American cross-country skier who made headlines this week by becoming the most accomplished male U.S. Olympic competitor in his discipline.
The trend of crafting between competitions has caught on with multiple Olympic participants, who find the rhythmic, meditative nature of knitting helps them stay calm during the intense atmosphere of the Games.
Bronze medalist Jessie Diggins, who claimed her podium spot in the women’s 10-kilometer cross-country event, has also embraced the craft as part of her Olympic routine.
The athletes’ choice to pursue this traditional hobby demonstrates how competitors are finding creative ways to manage stress and pass time between their high-stakes performances on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
