Jessie Diggins, the trailblazing American cross-country skier who shattered records and inspired a generation, has revealed that the upcoming 2025-26 season will be her last. The 34-year-old from Afton, Minnesota, made the announcement on November 19 via a heartfelt social media post in collaboration with Team USA and the Stifel U.S. Ski Team, sharing joyful photos from her career and expressing excitement for one final chapter.
Diggins, currently ranked as the world’s No. 1 female cross-country skier, hopes to be remembered not only for her extraordinary endurance and competitive fire but also for the joy, authenticity, and vulnerability she brought to the sport. “I hope I’m remembered not just for the pain cave and ability to suffer deeply for a team that I love and a sport I care about so much, but for the joy, sense of fun on snow, heart-on-sleeve racing, deep vulnerability and openness that I’ve brought to everything I do,” she wrote.
Her farewell tour kicks off November 28 at the World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland, and will culminate after the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics in February, followed by the World Cup Finals on home soil in Lake Placid, New York, in March 2026.
A Legacy of Breaking Barriers
Diggins burst onto the international scene with Kikkan Randall, claiming the United States’ first-ever Olympic gold in cross-country skiing at the 2018 PyeongChang Games in the team sprint. She went on to add a silver and bronze at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, amassing three Olympic medals in total.
Her World Cup record is unparalleled for an American: 29 victories, 79 podium finishes, three overall Crystal Globes (2021, 2023, 2025), and the distinction of being the only non-European to win the prestigious Tour de Ski overall title multiple times. Diggins has also earned eight World Championship medals and consistently challenged the dominance of Scandinavian powerhouses.
Off the snow, she has been a vocal advocate for mental health, eating disorder recovery, climate action, and expanding access to winter sports—issues she has faced personally and turned into platforms for change.
Tributes Pour In, Including from Mikaela Shiffrin
The skiing world quickly rallied with emotional farewells. Alpine skiing superstar Mikaela Shiffrin posted on X (formerly Twitter): “You’ve taught us all that, with the right combination of passion, sparkle and the ability to be true to yourself, you can move mountains. Can’t wait to cheer for you this season, @jessdiggs ❤️”
Fans echoed the sentiment, with one writing, “An inspiration to us all, on and off the trails,” while a Swedish supporter lamented, “The ski world will never be the same! She will be extremely missed!!” Many expressed relief that her retirement isn’t immediate, ensuring one last chance to watch her compete at the Olympics.
Diggins, who moved to Vermont early in her career to train full-time at Stratton Mountain, has called the decision bittersweet but right for her heart. As she prepares to “glitter up” for her swan song, the cross-country community is gearing up to celebrate an icon who elevated American skiing to global heights. All eyes will be on Milano-Cortina as she chases more history in her final races.
