Jessie Diggins Retires After 12th Place Finish in Final World Cup Race

The American cross-country skier concludes her storied career after a crash in her last competition.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 8:21pm

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Jessie Diggins, an American cross-country skiing standout, finished 12th in the final World Cup race of her career on Sunday. Diggins, who is from Afton, Minnesota, raised her arms in exhaustion as she crossed the finish line of the women's 20-kilometer mass start event, wrapping up her storied career on the slopes.

Why it matters

Diggins was a pioneering figure in American cross-country skiing, becoming the first U.S. woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport in 2018. Her retirement marks the end of an era for the sport in the United States.

The details

Diggins crashed during the final World Cup race, but was still able to complete the event and finish in 12th place. In an interview after the race, the 34-year-old expressed gratitude for her time competing at the highest levels of the sport, saying she would "really miss this" but was thankful to have been a part of such an "incredible team" over the years.

  • Diggins competed in her final World Cup race on March 22, 2026.

The players

Jessie Diggins

A 34-year-old cross-country skier from Afton, Minnesota who was the first American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport in 2018.

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What they’re saying

“I'm really going to miss this, but I'm really, really thankful that I got to do this and that I got to be part of such an incredible team for so many years.”

— Jessie Diggins

The takeaway

Jessie Diggins' retirement marks the end of an era for American cross-country skiing, as she was a trailblazer who inspired a new generation of skiers in the United States. Her Olympic gold medal victory in 2018 was a landmark achievement that helped grow the sport's popularity in the country.