Jessie Diggins, the most decorated American cross-country skier in history, has announced she will retire at the end of the 2024-25 season. The 34-year-old will race the full World Cup calendar, compete at the Milano Cortina Olympics, and finish her career on home snow at the World Cup finals in Lake Placid.
Diggins leaves the sport as the world's number one-ranked skier, with three overall World Cup titles, three distance globes, and four Olympic medals—including the historic 2018 team sprint gold with Kikkan Randall, the first US Olympic gold in cross-country skiing. She has amassed 79 podiums and 29 World Cup victories over her 15-year career.
Speaking from Finland, where she is preparing for the season opener, Diggins cited the toll of constant travel and a desire for a normal life as key reasons for retiring. She looks forward to spending more time at home with her husband, Wade, and even plans to run a 100-mile race after retiring.
Beyond her results, Diggins leaves a lasting legacy in athlete mental health. She has been open about her recovery from an eating disorder and has pushed US Ski & Snowboard to improve support systems. 'One of the legacy pieces that I’m leaving behind is how US Ski & Snowboard handles mental health,' she said.
Diggins said she will approach her final Olympics with a different mindset: 'Telling people, yeah, this is my last Games, it frees me to enjoy it.' She expects around 60 friends and family to attend in Milan, a stark contrast to the isolation of the Beijing Games.
