Randall among Americans poised for break-through

The United States has won exactly one Olympic medal in cross country skiing -- Bill Koch's silver in the 30 km in 1976 -- but don't be surprised if next month in Vancouver Americans don't see some breakthroughs in sports in which they have little pedigree.

Kikkan Randall has a shot to make history, but after a potentially fatal blood clot in her lower leg sent her to the hospital twice in 2008, she's probably just happy to be competing in Vancouver. Regardless, Randall should be easy to spot, given that she flamboyantly dyes her hair to shake up the staid image of her sport. No word on colors for Vanouver, but she sported pink locks when she won a World Cup race in Russia two years ago.