The Most Decorated Cross-Country Skier in U.S. History Announces Retirement

Jessie Diggins, the most decorated cross-country skier in U.S. history, has her eyes set on one more Winter Games.

She plans to compete at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Italy and the World Cup circuit, finishing with the finals in Lake Placid, New York. Afterwards, Diggins, now 34, will retire.

“I hope I’m remembered not just for the pain cave and ability to suffer deeply for a team that I love and a sport I care about so much, but for the joy, sense of fun on snow, heart-on-sleeve racing, deep vulnerability and openness that I’ve brought to everything I do,” said Diggins, in a press release shared by U.S. Ski & Snowboard.

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Across her career, Diggins has won almost every imaginable cross-country skiing title, helping put the U.S. on the map in a discipline where European countries dominate. 

Since her Olympic debut in 2014, she’s claimed three Olympic medals: one gold, one silver, and one bronze. That gold, which came in 2018 during the women’s team sprint alongside Kikkan Randall, was a first for American cross-country skiing. Four years later, with a third-place finish, Diggins became the first American to claim an individual Olympic medal in a cross-country sprint race.

Diggins’ World Cup resume is similarly expansive. There, she’s won 29 times and finished on the podium 79 times—plus seven World Championship medals.

“I want to congratulate Jessie on such a historic career,” said Sophie Goldchmidt, president and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard, in the press release.

“As an organization, we are thankful for the culture she has helped build on the Stifel U.S. Cross Country Ski Team alongside the excellent coaching staff and athletes, and the impact she has had on the world of ski racing,” she added.

Julia Kern, a younger member of the U.S. Cross Country Ski Team, called Diggins “a mentor, teammate, and friend.” Kern said Diggins “has led by example with both grit and grace.”

Outside of competing at the highest level, Diggins has frankly discussed her struggles with an eating disorder and advocated for those who face the same illness. She’s also worked with organizations like Share Winter and Protect Our Winters.