The Americans had themselves an historic outing at the World Nordic Championships in Italy, winning two gold medals and a bronze, and setting themselves up for an Olympic breakthrough next year.

Sarah Hendrickson, the soaring 18-year-old, won the women’s jumping title and will be favored to take the inaugural Games crown. Kikkan Randall and Jessie Diggins won the women’s cross-country team sprint for the first global gold by either gender while the men earned bronze in the Nordic combined relay for their first podium placement in the event.