Olympic champion Jessie Diggins, a three-time gold medallist, is set to retire after the 2025-26 season, marking the end of a remarkable 15-year World Cup career. The 34-year-old, known for her heart-on-sleeve racing and deep vulnerability, will bid farewell to the cross-country skiing circuit with a final campaign that includes the World Cup opener in Ruka, the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026, and the Stifel Lake Placid Finals in March 2026. In a statement, Diggins expressed her hope to be remembered not just for her results but for the joy, sense of fun, and community she has brought to her career. She added on social media, 'Skiing has given me more joy, challenge, courage, and community than I could have ever imagined, which is why I want to take you all on this final year with me.' Diggins retires as the most decorated cross-country skier in U.S. history, with three Olympic medals, seven World Championship medals, 29 World Cup victories, 79 World Cup podiums, two Tour de Ski overall titles, three distance FIS Crystal Globes, and three overall FIS Crystal Globes. She and teammate Kikkan Randall were the first U.S. athletes to win an Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing at PyeongChang 2018. Diggins' final season will conclude with a skate sprint, 10km classic, and 20km skate in Lake Placid from March 19-22, 2026, marking the end of her international career. Away from racing, Diggins has been an advocate for mental health, eating-disorder awareness, climate change, and winter sport accessibility.
