(NEXSTAR) - U.S. cross-country skier Ben Ogden is balancing his preparations for the 2026 Milan Olympics with a self-described "knitting addiction." Ogden, who is representing the United States in the 2026 Winter Games, recently admitted that his commitment to the craft has led him to fall behind on social media and personal correspondence. The athlete described knitting as an essential way to relax and fulfill a desire to create things while away from home. During the current season, Ogden has already completed both a hat and a sweater. Ogden is currently working on a set of mittens featuring a design of Joan of Arc on a horse. He noted that the project involves very fine thread and has proven more difficult than his previous work. "The yarn is really small, so I might have bitten off more than I could chew, but we'll see," Ogden said. "Now that I've said it publicly, I gotta lock in." The skier is also awaiting a shipment of yarn from Iceland to begin a second sweater. He explained that he brought various supplies with him on the road to ensure he could continue the hobby during the competition season. "I actually ordered some, so hopefully that will get here from Iceland," Ogden said. "I'm fired up to make another sweater out of that." For Ogden, the hobby serves as a mental break from the pressures of international competition. He explained that the ability to make physical objects is something he missed while traveling for sports until he brought his knitting supplies with him. "For me, it's a pretty awesome way to just relax," Ogden said. "I really crave the ability to make things. That's something that I have when I'm home and I don't have when I'm here until now." The time dedicated to knitting has also led to a decrease in Ogden's digital presence and communication. He issued an apology to followers and contacts who have noticed his absence from social media and his YouTube channel over the last two months. "I do want to publicly apologize to pretty much anybody that's emailed me in the last two months or messaged me on Instagram or wondered why I haven't posted any YouTube videos, all because of my new knitting addiction," Ogden said. He added that the craft allows him to put his phone away and focus entirely on his handiwork. Ogden will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. He plans to continue working on his current knitting projects, including the Joan of Arc mittens, as the Olympic season progresses. He plans to continue working on his current knitting projects, including the Joan of Arc mittens, as the Olympic season progresses. All facts in this report were gathered by journalists employed by Nexstar. Artificial intelligence tools were used to reformat from a broadcast script into a news article for our website. This report was edited and fact-checked by Nexstar staff before being published