Jessie Diggins
| Jessie Diggins | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Diggins in Seefeld, January, 2018 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country |  United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | August 26, 1991 Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 4 in (163 cm)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ski club | Stratton Mountain School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Cup career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seasons | 2011– | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Individual wins | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team wins | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiv. podiums | 35 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team podiums | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Indiv. starts | 227 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team starts | 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Overall titles | 1 – (2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Discipline titles | 1 – (DI in 2021) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| Updated on 14 March 2021. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jessie Diggins (born August 26, 1991) is an American cross-country skier.[2] She and teammate Kikkan Randall won the United States' first ever cross-country skiing gold medal at the Winter Olympics in women's team sprint at Pyeongchang in 2018. Diggins was named to the United States Ski Team in 2012.[3] She penned an autobiography in 2020 about her athletic accomplishments and personal struggles with bulimia nervosa as a teenager.[4] In March 2021, she clinched the top spot in the overall women's standings for the 2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup.[5]
Early life and education[]
Jessie Diggins was born in Saint Paul, Minnesota and grew up in Afton, Minnesota.[6] She has one sister, Mackenzie.[7] Diggins began skiing at age 4.[8] She showed prowess for skiing at age 11 when she started competing against older children.[8] Diggins graduated from Stillwater Area High School.[6]
Athletic career[]
Diggins won a gold medal with Kikkan Randall in the team sprint in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2013 in Val di Fiemme.[2] Two years later she won the silver medal in the 10 kilometer free style race in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2015 in Falun.[2]
Diggins was named to the U.S. team for the 2014 Winter Olympics. In her first event, the 15 kilometer skiathlon, she placed 8th (out of 61 competitors) with a time of 40:05.5.[9]
In the 2015–2016 World Cup, she placed 8th in the overall and sprint rankings and 9th in the distance ranking.[10]
At the 2017 Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland, Diggins took two medals: in the freestyle sprint, she won her quarter-final and semi-final heats on her way to taking the silver, ahead of team-mate Randall in third.[11] Subsequently, in the classic team sprint, Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen finished third, catching and passing the Swedish team in the closing stages of the race to take the bronze by 0.19 seconds. This made Diggins the first American to take four World Championship medals in cross-country skiing.[12]
Diggins finished third overall in the 2017–18 Tour de Ski, becoming the first American to finish on the podium in the overall classification, and beating her previous best of fifth overall in the previous edition. Her teammate Sadie Bjornsen finished ninth overall, also making it the first time that two Americans finished in the overall top ten.[13] She finished second overall in the World Cup 2017–2018 season standings.[5]
During the 2018 Winter Olympics she and Randall became the first American cross-country skiers to capture a gold medal by winning the women's team sprint at the Alpensia Cross-Country Centre in PyeongChang, South Korea.[14] At the end of the games she was chosen as the flag bearer for the United States at the closing ceremony.[15]
Diggins won the 2021 Tour de Ski, a first for an American. She placed atop the overall World Cup 2020–2021 season standings, claiming the biggest annual prize in cross-country skiing. Diggins' victory put her with Bill Koch, who won the men's title in 1982, to be the only Americans to win overall season titles for a World Cup cross-country ski circuit.[5]
Social activism[]
Diggins is an ambassador for the non-profit organization Fast and Female, which works to inspire girls from ages 8–18 to be active and empowered in sports.[16][17] Diggins is also an ambassador for the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Protect Our Winters, or POW, whose aim is to affect systemic solutions to climate change through the outdoor sports community. Diggins travelled with POW to Capitol Hill in April 2018 to raise concerns over climate change.[18]
In 2019, Diggins became a spokesperson for the Emily Program, an organization in the United States that provides treatment for eating disorders. In several interviews and essays, she revealed her experience of seeking treatment for bulimia in 2010 at the organization while as a teenage athlete, with the aim of her story to improve self-acceptance and reduce stigma and secrecy around eating disorders.[19][20]
Cross-country skiing results[]
Olympic Games[]
- 1 medal - (1 gold)
| Year | Age | 10 km individual |
15 km skiathlon |
30 km mass start |
Sprint | 4 × 5 km relay |
Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 22 | — | 8 | 40 | 12 | 9 | — |
| 2018 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 5 | Gold |
World Championships[]
- 4 medals – (1 gold, 2 silver, 1 bronze)
| Year | Age | 10 km individual |
15 km skiathlon |
30 km mass start |
Sprint | 4 × 5 km relay |
Team sprint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 19 | — | 28 | — | 29 | 9 | — |
| 2013 | 21 | 23 | — | DNF | — | 4 | Gold |
| 2015 | 23 | Silver | — | DNF | — | 4 | 8 |
| 2017 | 25 | — | DNF | 5 | Silver | 4 | Bronze |
| 2019 | 27 | 25 | — | 4 | 8 | 5 | 5 |
| 2021 | 29 | 4 | 15 | — | 24 | 4 | — |
World Cup[]
Season titles[]
- 2 titles – (1 overall, 1 distance)
| Season | |
| Discipline | |
| 2021 | Overall |
| Distance |
Season standings[]
| Season | Age | Season Standings | Ski Tour Standings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | Distance | Sprint | Nordic Opening |
Tour de Ski |
Ski Tour 2020 | World Cup Final |
Ski Tour Canada | ||
| 2011 | 19 | NC | — | NC | — | — | N/A | — | N/A |
| 2012 | 20 | 34 | 26 | 35 | — | — | N/A | 15 | N/A |
| 2013 | 21 | 36 | 34 | 44 | 24 | 21 | N/A | 26 | N/A |
| 2014 | 22 | 20 | 21 | 23 | 24 | 13 | N/A | 36 | N/A |
| 2015 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 23 | 44 | DNF | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| 2016 | 24 | 8 | 9 | 8 | 38 | 10 | N/A | N/A | 5 |
| 2017 | 25 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 8 | 5 | N/A | 16 | N/A |
| 2018 | 26 |  |
 |
6 | 12 | |
N/A | |
N/A |
| 2019 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 13 | 6 | N/A | 14 | N/A |
| 2020 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 11 | 5 | 9 | 6 | N/A | N/A |
| 2021 | 29 |  |
|
4 | 15 | |
N/A | N/A | N/A |
Individual podiums[]
- 10 victories – (4 WC, 6 SWC)
- 35 podiums – (15 WC, 20 SWC)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2015–16 | 8 January 2016 |  Toblach, Italy |
5 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 2 | 23 January 2016 |  Nové Město, Czech Republic |
10 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 3 | 20 February 2016 |  Lahti, Finland |
1.6 km Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 4 | 1 March 2016 |  Gatineau, Canada |
1.7 km Sprint F | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 5 | 12 March 2016 | Canmore, Canada |
10 km Pursuit C | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 6 | 2016–17 | 3 December 2016 |  Lillehammer, Norway |
5 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 1st |
| 7 | 3 January 2017 |  Oberstdorf, Germany |
5 km + 5 km Skiathlon C/F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 8 | 6 January 2017 | Toblach, Italy |
5 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 1st | |
| 9 | 2017–18 | 1 January 2018 |  Lenzerheide, Switzerland |
10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 10 | 7 January 2018 | Val di Fiemme, Italy |
9 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 11 | 30 December 2017 – 7 January 2018 |
Tour de Ski |
Overall Standings | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 12 | 28 January 2018 |  Seefeld, Austria |
10 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 1st | |
| 13 | 7 March 2018 | Drammen, Norway |
1.2 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 14 | 11 March 2018 | Oslo, Norway |
30 km Mass Start F | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 15 | 18 March 2018 |  Falun, Sweden |
10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 1st | |
| 16 | 16–18 March 2018 | World Cup Final |
Overall Standings | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 17 | 2018-19 | 29 December 2018 | Toblach, Italy |
1.3 km Sprint F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 18 | 1 January 2019 | Val Müstair, Switzerland |
1.4 km Sprint F | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 19 | 3 January 2019 | Oberstdorf, Germany |
10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 20 | 16 February 2019 | Cogne, Italy |
1.6 km Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | |
| 21 | 17 March 2019 | Falun, Sweden |
10 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 22 | 2019-20 | 1 December 2019 | Rukatunturi, Finland |
10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 23 | 7 December 2019 | Lillehammer, Norway |
7.5 km + 7.5 km Skiathlon C/F | World Cup | 2nd | |
| 24 | 15 December 2019 | Davos, Switzerland |
10 km Individual F | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 25 | 4 January 2020 | Val di Fiemme, Italy |
1.3 km Sprint C | Stage World Cup | 3rd | |
| 26 | 26 January 2020 | Oberstdorf, Germany |
1.5 km Sprint C | World Cup | 3rd | |
| 27 | 2020–21 | 1 January 2021 | Val Müstair, Switzerland |
1.4 km Sprint F | Stage World Cup | 3rd |
| 28 | 2 January 2021 | 10 km Mass Start C | Stage World Cup | 3rd | ||
| 29 | 3 January 2021 | 10 km Pursuit F | Stage World Cup | 1st | ||
| 30 | 5 January 2021 | Toblach, Italy |
10 km Individual F | Stage World Cup | 1st | |
| 31 | 6 January 2021 | 10 km Pursuit C | Stage World Cup | 3rd | ||
| 32 | 9 January 2021 | Val di Fiemme, Italy |
10 km Mass Start F | Stage World Cup | 2nd | |
| 33 | 1–10 January 2021 | Tour de Ski |
Overall Standings | World Cup | 1st | |
| 34 | 29 January 2021 | Falun, Sweden |
10 km Individual F | World Cup | 1st | |
| 35 | 6 February 2021 | Ulricehamn, Sweden |
1.3 km Sprint F | World Cup | 3rd |
Team podiums[]
- 1 victory – (1 TS)
- 7 podiums – (5 RL, 2 TS)
| No. | Season | Date | Location | Race | Level | Place | Teammate(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011–12 | 15 January 2012 | Milan, Italy |
6 × 1.4 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 2nd | Randall |
| 2 | 2012–13 | 25 November 2012 | Gällivare, Sweden |
4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Brooks / Randall / Stephen |
| 3 | 7 December 2012 | Quebec City, Canada |
6 × 1.6 km Team Sprint F | World Cup | 1st | Randall | |
| 4 | 2013–14 | 8 December 2013 | Lillehammer, Norway |
4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Randall / Bjornsen / Stephen |
| 5 | 2015-16 | 6 December 2015 | Lillehammer, Norway |
4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 3rd | Brennan / Bjornsen / Stephen |
| 6 | 24 January 2016 | Nové Město, Czech Republic |
4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Caldwell / Bjornsen / Stephen | |
| 7 | 2019-20 | 8 December 2019 | Lillehammer, Norway |
4 × 5 km Relay C/F | World Cup | 2nd | Caldwell / Bjornsen / Brennan |
US National Championships medals[]
- 2018 -
Craftsbury, Vermont 
1st, 30 km freestyle mass start - 2016 - Craftsbury, Vermont 1st, 30 km freestyle mass Start
- 2012 - Craftsbury, Vermont
2nd, 30 km freestyle mass Start - 2012 - Rumford, Maine 2nd, sprint classic
- 2012 - Rumford, Maine 1st, 20 km classic mass start
- 2012 - Rumford, Maine 1st, 10 km freestyle
- 2012 - Rumford, Maine 1st, sprint freestyle
- 2011 - Sun Valley, Idaho
3rd, 30 km classic mass start - 2011 - Rumford, Maine 1st, sprint freestyle
Bibliography[]
- Diggins, Jessie and Smith, Todd (2020). Brave Enough. ISBN 978-1517908195
References[]
- ^ "Jessie Diggins". usskiandsnowboard.org. United States Ski and Snowboard Association. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c Jessica Diggins at the International Ski Federation
- ^ "Jessie Diggins". U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ "'Brave Enough' Book Review: Here Comes Diggins's Memoir – FasterSkier.com". Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c OlympicTalk (2021-03-09). "Jessie Diggins clinches historic World Cup overall title". OlympicTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Jessie Diggins". Team USA. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ "Jessie Diggins". U.S. Ski & Snowboard. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Emerson, Dan (January 2017). "Afton's Jessie Diggins is a star on the U.S. Nordic Ski Team". Community Life Magazine. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
- ^ "Ladies' Skiathlon 7.5 km Classic + 7.5 km Free Results". SOOC. Retrieved February 8, 2014.
- ^ "FIS Ski World Cup Leader Board". International Ski Federation. Archived from the original on 2016-03-16. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
- ^ Axon, Rachel (24 February 2017). "U.S. women make history at cross-country skiing world championships". USAToday.com. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ Shinn, Peggy (26 February 2017). "Jessie Diggins, Sadie Bjornsen Win Bronze In Team Sprint; Diggins Is First American To Win 4 World Medals". United States Olympic Committee. Retrieved 4 March 2018.
- ^ "Jessie Diggins takes third in Tour de Ski, makes history for U.S. team". USAToday.com. 7 January 2018. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
- ^ Dougherty, Tom (February 21, 2018). "U.S. ends 42-year Olympic cross-country medal drought with historic gold". NBC Universal. Archived from the original on 2018-03-07. Retrieved February 27, 2018.
- ^ Nancy Armour (23 February 2018). "Gold medalist Jessie Diggins will carry U.S. flag in 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony". USA Today. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- ^ Coleman, Alyson. "About". Fast and Female. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ Coleman, Alyson. "Ambassadors - USA". Fast and Female. Retrieved 2019-03-08.
- ^ "Jessie Diggins talks climate change & Olympic gold | Cross-country skiing". Retrieved 2019-11-07.
- ^ "Jessie Diggins: Facing my Fears and Finding Recovery". The Emily Program. 2019-02-25. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
- ^ "How Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins works to be her own best cheerleader". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2020-10-21.
External links[]
- Jessie Diggins at the International Ski Federation
- Jessica Diggins at the International Olympic Committee
- Jessie Diggins at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)
- NBC Sports, 2018 Winter Olympics: Diggins and Randall win women's cross-country team sprint
- Interview with Jessie Diggins . International ski Federation, retrieved October 4, 2018
| show Authority control  |
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- 1991 births
- Living people
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in cross-country skiing
- American female cross-country skiers
- Cross-country skiers at the 2014 Winter Olympics
- Cross-country skiers at the 2018 Winter Olympics
- Olympic cross-country skiers of the United States
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in skiing
- Olympic medalists in cross-country skiing
- Medalists at the 2018 Winter Olympics
- FIS Nordic World Ski Championships medalists in cross-country skiing
- Tour de Ski skiers
- People from Washington County, Minnesota
- Sportspeople from Minnesota
- People from Woodbury, Minnesota
- Tour de Ski winners
- Writers from Minnesota