Jessie Diggins, the most decorated American cross-country skier in history, has announced her retirement at the conclusion of the current season, bringing to an end a remarkable 15-year career that transformed the landscape of US cross-country skiing. Her decision marks the close of a journey that saw her break barriers in a sport traditionally dominated by European athletes, elevating American skiing to unprecedented heights.
Diggins, currently ranked as the world’s No. 1 skier, plans to complete the full World Cup schedule this season and compete in her fourth Winter Olympics at Milano-Cortina. She has chosen to finish her illustrious career on home snow at the World Cup finals in Lake Placid. Throughout her career, she has amassed an impressive record, including three overall World Cup titles, three distance globes, and four Olympic medals. Notably, she won the historic 2018 Olympic team sprint gold alongside Kikkan Randall, a victory that marked the very first Olympic title for the United States in cross-country skiing.
During a recent Zoom interview from Finland, where she is preparing for the season opener, Diggins shared her reflections on the decision to retire. “It’s time to open the next chapter of my life and it’s going to be filled with so many things,” she said. She emphasized the long and demanding journey she has undertaken, expressing her deep love for the sport and her teammates but acknowledging that it is time to move forward. “I’ve been working very, very hard for a very long time,” she added, “and I love what I do and I love this team … but it’s time to open the next chapter of my life.”
At 34 years old, Diggins hails from the small Minnesota suburb of Afton, with a population just under 3,000. She revealed that after years of an intense travel schedule—spending roughly seven months a year on the road—she is eager to spend more time at home. While she doesn’t mind the hard work and physical demands of training, the constant travel has made maintaining a normal life challenging. “The hard work I don’t mind, although it can be really hard on your body,” she explained. “But really, it’s the travel … it makes it quite hard to have anything close to a normal life. The time has come for me to get really excited about having a normal life.”
Looking ahead, Diggins shared an ambitious personal goal unrelated to skiing: she plans to run a 100-mile trail race. “It’s ironic to be like, yeah, I’m going to be done cross-country ski racing so I can go run a hundred miles on trails,” she laughed. “But it really lights up my soul.” This aspiration reflects her enduring passion for endurance sports and her desire to challenge herself in new ways.
Diggins’ career achievements are staggering. Since making her World Cup debut as a teenager, she has stood on the podium 79 times and claimed 29 victories. She made history in 2021 by becoming the first woman from outside Europe to win the overall crystal globe—the most prestigious prize in cross-country skiing—an honor she has secured three times. Known for her trademark glitter-streaked cheeks and relentlessly positive attitude, Diggins has become one of winter sports’ most recognizable and beloved figures. Her fierce competitive spirit, often described as her ability to dig deep into what she calls the “pain cave,” has set her apart on the international stage. She credits her upbringing in Minnesota for instilling the toughness and resilience that have defined her career. “Minnesota raises people really tough – tough but with kindness,” she said. “It was like, ‘Nope, it’s super cold out, no problem, just put an extra jacket on.’”
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Diggins has made a profound impact through her openness and advocacy regarding mental health. She has been candid about her long and difficult recovery from an eating disorder, helping to break down stigma and foster greater support for athletes facing similar challenges. Her efforts have influenced the US Ski & Snowboard organization to improve mental health resources for its athletes. “One of the legacy pieces that I’m leaving behind is how US Ski & Snowboard handles mental health and how they support people,” she explained. “When someone says, ‘Hey, I’m struggling with an eating disorder,’ there is so much help available, because I was so open and shared everything along the