There’s a snapshot in time that will forever live in the mind of Afton native Jessie Diggins, and it’s not the epic finishing kick at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang that resulted in her bringing home a gold medal.
Instead, it’s the warmup lap before a World Cup race at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis on Feb. 17, 2024, when a wall of noise followed her around the course.
That will stick with her for the rest of her life.
Second placed Jessie Diggins of United States celebrates on the podium after the women’s 20km mass start classic skiing race, at the FIS Cross-Country World Cup at the Nordic Center Goms, in Geschinen, Switzerland, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2026. (Salvatore Di Nolfi/Keystone via AP)
“I cried like 12 times,” Diggins said. “It was the coolest moment of my career.”
It was a similar refrain from her father Clay and mother Deb as they reflected on the incredible life their daughter has made for herself with cross country skiing at the forefront. They have traveled all over the world watching her compete, but the highlight for them will always be seeing fans from across Minnesota show up to watch a World Cup race in their own backyard.
“I’m getting chills thinking about it,” Clay Diggins said. “I’ll never forget that.”
The same goes for pretty much everybody that was in attendance.
“It was such an amazing event,” Deb Diggins said said. “I could’ve died right there.”
It was the culmination of a lifetime’s worth of hard work for Diggins, who long dreamed of bringing a World Cup race to Minnesota. She was relentless in her pursuit because she wanted to share the sport with as many people from her home state as possible. The fact that she made it happen will always top the list of her accomplishments.
“It’s not about the results for me,” Diggins said. “It’s about giving back.”
That mindset has long served as a compass for Diggins as she has emerged as the face of the cross country skiing. She was provided a platform after winning the gold medal. She used it to grow the sport as much as she could, while also becoming a vocal advocate for mental health and climate change.
That shouldn’t be taken for granted as Diggins prepares to represent her country for the final time at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. She has been everything cross country skiing could ask for in an ambassador.
As she has navigated the ups and downs along the way, Diggins has left a legacy in Minnesota that will be felt for the foreseeable future. The aftermath of the World Cup race in Minnesota is a small part of that.
“We’ve heard from a lot of people who started cross country skiing because they were so excited about seeing a World Cup race,” Deb Diggins said. “They decided to go out and give it a try after seeing it for themselves.”
The numbers at the grassroots level speak for themselves. Minnesota Youth Ski League executive director Amy Cichanowski noted that their enrollment has more than doubled since Diggins started competing on the international stage. There were 1,707 kids enrolled in the program in 2015-16, according to data provided by the league. There are 3,502 kids enrolled in the program in 2025-26.
“That’s not a coincidence,” Cichanowski said. “It has a lot to do with (Diggins) and the way she carries herself. She’s always been about having fun out there. That’s the perfect way to attract kids to the sport.”
That has been a calling card for Diggins, who has become known for her joy at the starting line as much as her full body collapse at the finish line.
“It’s always been about having fun for her,” Clay Diggins said. “She’s kind of trademarked that with her glitter. She puts it on her face to remind herself that it’s supposed to be fun, even with all the pressure. I think that type of approach has really allowed her to have so much success.”
That has contributed to noticeable spikes for the the Minnesota Youth Ski League as Diggins has competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, and now the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.
“We haven’t had very much snow the past couple of years, so us being able to still attract so many kids says a lot about the momentum,” Cichanowski said. “The role model that she has been for our sport is such an important part of that.”
That sentiment was echoed by the Loppet Foundation executive director Meghan Cosgrove as she emphasized how Diggins has been instrumental in getting people of all ages to try cross country skiing for the first time.
“She’s not just inspiring kids,” Cosgrove said. “She’s also inspiring adults.”
That’s an important part of the equation when it comes to how much Diggins has helped grow the sport. It’s not only about pulling in the 5-year-old that has never done it before. It’s also about pulling in the 55-year-old that has never done it before.
“She’s done so much good for our sport,” Cosgrove said. “You can discover it at any stage of life, and she’s helping people do that.”
In the same breath, Cosgrove praised Diggins for being vulnerable throughout her rise up the ranks, such as sharing her struggle with an eating disorder, which has played a role in inspiring the next generation to face their own struggles.
The impact that Diggins made in that respect goes even deeper than anything she has achieved on the course.
“She made the decision that she was going to share her life with the world,” Clay Diggins said. “We couldn’t be more proud of her for being willing to do that.”
That will forever mean more than any piece of hardware ever could.
“Her ultimate goal from the time she won the gold medal was to use it to get a World Cup race to Minnesota,” Deb Diggins said. “It was her love letter to the community that helped raise her.”
Related Articles
What to watch on Day 1 of the Milan Cortina Olympics: Men’s downhill medal race, Ilia Malinin skates
Photos from the Milan Cortina Olympics opening ceremony
Minions will get their Olympic moment as Spanish figure skater gets final approval for his music
Milan Cortina is going for Olympic fashion gold. Take a look at some eye-popping outfits
Olympics: Lindsay Vonn’s training run earns fist pumps
Leave a Reply