Kikkan Randall
One month after her final cancer radiation treatment, Kikkan Randall of Anchorage conquered the 50K American Birkebeiner.
The Birkie is the largest cross-country ski event in the country, with this year’s long-distance races attracting more than 5,500 participants last weekend in Hayward, Wisconsin.
Randall is royalty in the ski world – a five-time Olympian and 2018 gold medalist.
This was her first Birkie, and although she’s far from Olympic caliber, the 36-year-old is still a world-class competitor.
If she’s racing, she’s in it to win it.
Randall, of East High fame, didn’t disappoint as she won her 35-39 age group and placed 12th among women and 179th out of 3,696 finishers in the 50K skate race. Her time was 2:48:19.
It’s an incredible accomplishment when you remember she was diagnosed with breast cancer only eight months ago and made her name in skiing in sprints, not grueling 31-mile races.
Yet we learned long ago that Randall is an amazing athlete.
She’s also an amazing role model.
Randall is president of Fast & Female USA, a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 with a mission to keep girls active and engaged in sports.
She made appearances at several events during Birkie week to promote various causes.
“We want to empower every girl to stay in sports because we know it will be really important for her health and for her confidence,” Randall said.