48 Days Until The Winter Olympics: Jessie Diggins Clinches 2026 Cross Country Skiing Spot and Announces Retirement Plans
The finish line is approaching for Jessie Diggins, but she isn’t coasting. The most decorated American cross-country skier in history is charging toward her final chapter with the same relentless energy that defined her career.
With the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on the horizon, Diggins has officially secured her spot on the U.S. Olympic roster, marking her fourth and final trip to the Winter Games.
Diggins: A Historic Career on Snow
From Afton, Minnesota, to the global stage, Diggins has transformed American cross-country skiing. Her resume is nothing short of legendary: three Olympic medals, including that historic gold with Kikkan Randall in 2018, seven World Championship medals, and three FIS Crystal Globes.
Just this past weekend in Trondheim, Norway, Diggins added another accolade to her collection. She claimed victory in the 20km skiathlon, securing her 30th World Cup win. It was a dominant performance where she beat Norway’s Heidi Weng by one second in a sprint finish.
This victory followed a strong start to her final season in Ruka, Finland, where she delivered her best-ever result on the 10km classic course.
As her former teammate and fellow Olympic champion Kikkan Randall put it, “When you know it’s your final season, and you’ve already done everything, she can just come in here and ski with reckless abandon.”
One Last Olympic Run
The 34-year-old has officially qualified for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics following a podium finish in the 10km Freestyle on December 7th. These Games will serve as the capstone to an illustrious Olympic career that began in 2014.
In Milan, Diggins is expected to be a fierce contender. She will compete in multiple events, with the Trondheim World Cup serving as a preview for the Olympic courses. Her recent form, currently wearing the yellow bib as the overall World Cup leader, suggests she remains the skier to beat.
The Finish Line: Retirement Plans Confirmed
While her current pace is blistering, Diggins has been clear about her future. She plans to retire at the end of the 2025-26 season.
“My goals for the whole season are to be happy, healthy and in the present moment,” Diggins told US Ski and Snowboard after her race in Ruka. “Really soak it in, because this is the last time I get to do this, and that’s really special to me.”
Fans will have one last chance to see her race professionally on home soil. Diggins has confirmed that her final professional race will take place at the Stifel Lake Placid Finals in New York from March 19–22, 2026. It will be a fitting farewell for an athlete who didn’t just participate in the sport but fundamentally changed how Americans view it.
Until then, Diggins is doing what she does best: skiing with nothing left to lose and leaving everything out on the snow.
