Jessie Diggins to Retire After 2025-26 Season

Jessie Diggins, the most decorated cross-country skier in United States history, announced Wednesday that she will retire at the end of the 2025-26 season, capping a 15-year career that elevated American performance in a sport long dominated by European nations.

The 34-year-old from Afton, Minnesota, shared the news via social media and a statement, expressing a mix of reluctance and excitement about the transition. "It's going to be hard to step away from this sport and team that I love so much, but it also feels right in my heart, and I'm so excited to open a new chapter in my life," Diggins said. Her final season begins November 28 in Ruka, Finland, with the World Cup opener. She plans to compete in the full calendar, including the demanding Tour de Ski multistage event over the New Year, before making her fourth Olympic appearance at the Milano-Cortina Games in Italy from February 6 to 22, 2026. Diggins will conclude her competitive career at the World Cup Finals in Lake Placid, New York, March 19 to 22.

Diggins' achievements include three Olympic medals: a historic gold in the team sprint at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games alongside Kikkan Randall, marking the first Olympic...