All About Skier Jessie Diggins and Why She Ended Her Olympic Career in Milan

Jessie Diggins, 34, closed her Olympic cross-country skiing career in Milan with an against-the-odds finish. The Afton, Minnesota native is ranked at the very top of her sport and had previously announced that she would retire at the end of the 2025-2026 season (she still has the 2026 World Cup ahead of her!).

Diggins arrived at the Milan Cortina Games ready for the podium but suffered a fall during the skiathlon event, severely bruising her ribs. She went on to compete in the 10km race, collapsing with pain and exhaustion after crossing the finish line, yet she was still so happy to take home the bronze in the event.

Going into the 50km race on Sunday, February 22, Diggins was very clear about her priorities. "My goal for tomorrow’s 50km is to simply do the best that I can in each moment, to be smart, and to truly enjoy the experience of putting on an Olympic bib for the last time with my family here to cheer me on," she wrote on Instagram.

jessie diggins, cross country, milan, milan cortina, olympics, skiathlon, 10km, 50km, bruised ribs, afton minnesota