John H.
Caldwell, an American Olympic skier and author, died on February 27, 2026, at age 97. Caldwell competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics in Nordic skiing and later became a cross-country ski coach and authority on the sport.
He wrote a series of books that helped popularize recreational cross-country skiing in the United States. Born John Homer Caldwell in Detroit, Michigan, he grew up in Somerset, Pennsylvania, moved to Putney, Vermont, in 1941, and graduated from Dartmouth College in 1950.
John Homer Caldwell (November 28, 1928 – February 27, 2026) was an American nordic skier who competed in the 1952 Winter Olympics, then became a cross-country ski coach and authority on cross-country skiing. He wrote a series of books that helped popularize and develop understanding of recreational cross-country skiing in the United States. Consequently, Caldwell has been called the “father” and “guru” of Nordic skiing in North America.