Former 'Life Below Zero' Star Jessie Holmes Wins Second Iditarod Title

The 1,000-mile sled dog race across Alaska's rugged terrain was the most important of Holmes' career, he said.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 2:00pm

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Jessie Holmes, a former cast member on the National Geographic reality show 'Life Below Zero', has won the Iditarod sled dog race for the second consecutive year. Holmes crossed the finish line in Nome, Alaska on Tuesday night, becoming only the third competitor in the 54-year history of the race to repeat as champion the year after their first victory.

Why it matters

The Iditarod is one of the most grueling and iconic endurance races in the world, testing the physical and mental fortitude of both mushers and their dog teams as they traverse over 1,000 miles of Alaska's rugged wilderness. Holmes' repeat victory cements his status as one of the top sled dog racers in the world and highlights his mastery of the challenging Iditarod course.

The details

Holmes guided his dog team across the finish line in Nome, a Bering Sea coastal community, after the race started on March 8 in Willow. The course took mushers over two mountain ranges, along the frozen Yukon River, and across the unpredictable Bering Sea ice. Holmes, who earned $80,000 for this year's win, up from $57,000 last year, is only the third competitor in Iditarod history to repeat as champion the year after their first victory.

  • The race started on March 8 in Willow.
  • Holmes crossed the finish line in Nome on Tuesday night.

The players

Jessie Holmes

A former cast member on the National Geographic reality show 'Life Below Zero' who has now won the Iditarod sled dog race two years in a row.

Susan Butcher

A three-time Iditarod champion who was the first competitor to repeat as champion the year after their first victory.

Lance Mackey

A four-time Iditarod champion who was the second competitor to repeat as champion the year after their first victory.

Kjell Rokke

A Norwegian billionaire who provided $100,000 in additional prize money and $170,000 to Alaska Native villages that serve as checkpoints for the Iditarod.

Steve Curtis

A Canadian entrepreneur who participated in the Iditarod's new noncompetitive 'expedition' class and pledged $50,000 to help youth sports programs in the villages.

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What they’re saying

“That's hard to put that on yourself because you got to live with that pressure every day. And if I do not make it, it is going to absolutely crush me.”

— Jessie Holmes

What’s next

The Iditarod has never provided an official count of dogs that have died during the race, but one dog named Charly died in this year's race. A necropsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death.

The takeaway

Jessie Holmes' repeat victory in the grueling Iditarod sled dog race solidifies his status as one of the top mushers in the world and highlights the physical and mental fortitude required to conquer the challenging 1,000-mile course across Alaska's rugged wilderness.