Ski champ Randall back on US Cross Country Ski Team

Published 9:00 am Thursday, November 24, 2016

ANCHORAGE — World champion skier Kikkan Randall is back on the women’s U.S. Cross Country Ski Team after taking a season off to have a baby.

The announcement of the four-time Olympian’s return comes just before the 2016-17 season begins with International Ski Federation World Cup Opener taking place Saturday in Ruka, Finland.

Randall and her husband, Jeff Ellis, of Anchorage, had their first child, a boy, in April.

In announcing her pregnancy last year, Randall had said she planned to compete in 2016-17, and she also was focusing on the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The 33-year-old Randall has won World Cup titles and two World Championship medals, including gold in team sprint with Jessie Diggins of Afton, Minnesota, in 2013.