Bill Koch

Bill Koch (June 7, 1955-) is an American skiier, the first world-class cross-country skiier from the United States.

A native of Brattleboro, Vermont, he originally competed in the NIS in the Nordic combined, but later switched to cross-country skiing. In 1974 he was the first American to win a medal in international competition, placing third in the European junior championships. He also was the first American to win an Olympic medal in skiing, winning the silver in the 30 km for the 1976 Olympics.

Stress caused by media presence, along with asthma, plagued Koch after his early successes. Considered the top American sportsman at the 1980 Winter Olympics, he performed poorly and finished far out of contention in all of his races.

Afterwards, he developed a new skiing technique that resembled ice skating on skis, and in 1982 won the Nordic World Cup for cross-country. He performed well in 1983, but placed third.