Early Crash Derails Jessie Diggins in Olympic Skiathlon
Jessie Diggins, the world's top-ranked cross-country skier and a pre-race favorite, saw her hopes for skiathlon gold at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics dashed by an early crash on Saturday. The American star, competing in her farewell Games, tumbled during the opening lap of the classical section, sending her to the back of the pack and forcing a grueling comeback effort.
Sweden Dominates with One-Two Finish
In a commanding performance, Sweden's Frida Karlsson powered to gold with a time of 53 minutes and 45 seconds, finishing 51 seconds ahead of her teammate Ebba Andersson, who took silver. Norway's Heidi Weng secured bronze in 55 minutes and 11 seconds after a late push. The race, contested over a new 20km distance, quickly became a test of endurance in challenging wet and humid conditions at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium in the Dolomites.
Karlsson, 26, executed a flawless ski exchange and steadily distanced the field, marking her first individual Olympic medal after winning relay bronze at the Beijing Games. "I had so much fun out there today and I am really proud of my whole team who have made this happen," Karlsson said. "This is a once-in-a-lifetime moment."
Diggins' Resilience Shines Through
Despite the setback, Diggins showcased her trademark grit, clawing back from as low as 14th place to finish eighth, 2 minutes and 21 seconds behind Karlsson and 55 seconds off the podium. The crash occurred when Finland's Vilma Nissinen fell on a downhill turn, causing congestion that led to Diggins tumbling with Norway's Karoline Simpson-Larsen. "There's a lot of the things outside of my control. It just didn't work out for me today, but that's OK," Diggins reflected. "I was very proud of my heart and my grit."
Once the race shifted to freestyle, her strongest discipline, the Minnesota native mounted a fierce fightback, emerging as the top US finisher. This performance served as an early reminder of the resilience that has defined her 15-year career, which includes three Olympic medals and a historic 2018 team sprint gold with Kikkan Randall, the first Olympic title in US cross-country skiing history.
Historic Shift in Olympic Skiing
Saturday's race marked a historic moment for the sport, as it was the first time men and women contested equal 20km skiathlon distances at the Olympics. Athletes raced 10km in classic technique before switching equipment mid-race for 10km of freestyle, opening a cross-country program featuring 12 medal races over the Games.
For Diggins, who announced her retirement at the end of the season, this event was the start of a final Olympic campaign framed as a chance to race with freedom and perspective. With five more events on the cross-country slate, she has further opportunities to add to her legacy before concluding her career at the World Cup finals in Lake Placid next month.
