The 34-year-old is the most decorated skier in history.
AFTON, Minn. — Jessie Diggins, the most decorated professional cross-country skier in history, announced she is retiring after next season.
“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!” she wrote in an Instagram caption on Wednesday. “Skiing has given me more joy, challenge, courage and community than I could have ever imagined, which is why I want to take you all on this final year with me.”
The three-time Olympic medalist has also won eight world championship medals, 29 World Cup wins (and 79 World Cup podiums), two Tour de Ski victories and three overall World Cup Crystal Globe wins.
Diggins, 34, made cross-country skiing history for the United States at the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics when she and Kikkan Randall won the team sprint — the country’s first gold medal in the sport. Diggins set another U.S. Olympic record at the Beijing Games by being the first woman to win an individual medal when she took bronze in the sprint.
The silver matched the best result ever by an American in an individual cross-country skiing event. Bill Koch won silver in the men’s 30-kilometer race at the 1976 Innsbruck Olympics.
Minnesota-born Diggins began skiing young. When she was younger, her parents would push through the snowy backwoods with her in a backpack, according to U.S. Ski and Snowboard. Her start in the competitive sport began in high school.
She won state championships, Junior National titles, and then went on to win her first individual World Cup race in 2016 at 25 years old.
Often seen with colorful glitter on her face, Diggins previously jokingly called herself the “team glitter fairy” and explained why she wears the sparkly face paint while skiing.
“It’s a reminder and promise to myself that this is supposed to be fun,” she told NBC San Diego in 2022. “When I put the glitter on, you know, you can’t not smile when you’re putting something sparkly on your face.”
When not skiing, Diggins hikes, camps, runs, swims, gardens and cooks, according to her biography.
She is also a spokesperson for the Emily Program, an eating disorder treatment clinic, and engages in climate advocacy through nonprofit Protect Our Winters and the Share Winter Foundation.
“I’m excited, emotional, and proud of the advocacy work it’s allowed me to do, especially in the mental health, snow access and climate spaces,” she wrote on social media. “But most of all, I’m grateful. Grateful for the the support that’s led me through this life, the hugs, belief and the opportunity to chase down crazy dreams with all of you alongside me.”
Colleagues, fans and fellow Olympians took to social media to reflect on working alongside her and wish her well after the announcement.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to watch the transformation of Jessie Diggins from a sparkle chipmunk at Junior Nationals all the way up to being the World’s number one-ranked female skier,” wrote Kikkan Randall, U.S. Cross Country Ski Team and co-Gold Medal winner. “I had the chance to witness firsthand Jessie’s passion, dedication, and grit on her quest to be the best in the world.”
She promised to “soak up all the love and say thank you” for the remainder of her time professionally skiing.
“It’s been the honor of a lifetime to get to represent such amazing communities and ski fans on the world stage, and I’m so lucky to get to do this one last time,” she wrote. “I’ll be giving this season everything I’ve got, right to the last finish line in New York at the Stifel Lake Placid Finals.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.