US Ski Legend Jessie Diggins Thrives in Final Olympic Run

The most successful cross-country skier in U.S. history is racing toward her final Olympics with a powerful message about strength, vulnerability, and what winning really means.

Jessie Diggins, 34, made history in 2018 when she won America's first Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing, ending a 42-year medal drought. Since that breakthrough moment in South Korea, she's added two more Olympic medals and racked up 33 World Cup victories, dominating a sport long controlled by Scandinavian athletes.

But as Diggins prepares for the Milan Cortina Winter Games this month, she's most proud of a different kind of victory. The Minnesota native has become a leading voice in athlete mental health, sharing her own journey with eating disorders that emerged during her career.

"Eating disorders are often not about food," Diggins explained during training last summer. "For me, it was about control and a struggle with perfectionism. I thought I had to be perfect."

After her gold medal win brought new fame and pressure, her eating disorder resurfaced. Instead of hiding it, Diggins chose to speak publicly about her struggles and get help.

Her training partner Julia Kern, who will also compete in Milan, credits Diggins with transforming the team's approach. "She's incredibly disciplined and is willing to push really, really hard," Kern said. "She's definitely paved the way for the next generation."

That discipline shows in the details. On a summer day in Vermont's Green Mountains, Diggins trained on roller skis, warning her teammate about the dangers while grinning about her collection of scars. Hours later, she was back in the gym, logging more miles on the treadmill.

Why This Inspires

Diggins discovered that her real secret weapon wasn't grinding harder. It was learning to balance intensity with wellness and adding joy back into the process.

"It's OK to ask for help," she said. "I feel like I'm a really strong, capable, gritty, tough woman, and I need help. I shouldn't have to just figure this out all on my own."

Now healthy and focused, Diggins says she's learned to be more flexible and find excitement in workouts that used to feel like a burden. Her openness has resonated far beyond the ski slopes, showing young athletes that asking for support isn't weakness but wisdom.

Cross-country skiing demands mastery of complex techniques across grueling distances in brutal cold, finishing with lung-crushing sprints. Diggins raised the bar for how American athletes prepare for that challenge while also redefining what it means to be a champion.

As she heads into her final Olympic competition, Diggins isn't just chasing more medals but proving that true strength includes knowing when to be vulnerable.