Jessie Diggins’ goal is to save lives – and do it with glowing cheeks

– It’s not a real ski season if I don’t get a little bloody in at least one race.

When Jessie Diggins passes DN after the World Cup race in Oberhof, she is bleeding from one arm. She fell head over heels in the snow, lost a lot of time and still fought her way to fourth place.

This instinct to never give up shapes the American’s view of skiing and life off the slopes. She may seem tired at the start of the race, but she is often present as the race approaches.

The 34-year-old conceded on podiums and medals.

“It’s very good that someone who doesn’t come from Sweden and Norway is always so high at the top. It’s very good for the sport that we’re spreading around the world,” says Maja Dahlqvist about Diggins’ importance.

The star himself tells DN:

– I hope I inspired people. I’ve gotten people talking about mental health and I’m committed to climate issues. So I hope I’ve shown that it can’t just be about winning, but also about being a good role model.

Everyone I’ve spoken to says you’ll be missed next year.

The American laughs and looks a little touched.

– Yes, it’s much better than just a “goodbye!” I’ll miss everyone too.

Less than three weeks later She sits on the podium at a press conference before her fourth Olympic Games. She has spent her entire adult life playing the sport and says she basically went straight from her high school graduation to her first professional training with the U.S. national team. There was Jason Cork, her personal trainer and an incredibly important person in her life.

– He is incredibly patient with me. When I ask him to explain the sports science behind why I should do these particular intervals, using an analogy to jelly donuts with sprinkles, he does, she says of the relationship “built on a deep foundation of dry dad jokes” and “acceptance of all my idiosyncrasies.”

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At last year’s World Cup, Jessie Diggins called President Trump “embarrassing” after the fight with Ukraine’s Ditto Zelensky. Now during the Olympics, she paid tribute to the people of Minnesota after confrontations with ICE in her home state.

What the star is passionate about However, talking about it is a personal struggle. In her late teens, she began to be ashamed of her muscles and thought that only the super thin won races – and she developed bulimia. Now she wants to give hope and save lives.

– No one chooses to have an eating disorder, but the attitude is often: “Why can’t you just eat?” Because of the stigma, it’s important to me to talk about: “Hey, I was in a tough situation, I thought my life was going to be short, but because I got help and love and was finally able to love myself, here I am at the Olympics, competing.”

When DN asks Jonna Sundling to describe Diggins, she first mentions a “spreader of joy” and someone who “tried to help on other levels,” but then mentions how impressed she is with the athlete.

– An incredibly strong and fast skier who can handle both long and short distances, which has inspired me over the years to try to work like this as a hybrid skier.

The honors continue within the American team. JC Schoonmaker was 12 years old when Diggins won his first World Cup race, a team sprint with Kikkan Randall. He got autographs from them and motivated them to invest in cross-country skiing.

“During my first few years on the team, it was really cool to have her there, learn things from her and ask her questions,” he tells DN.

– She meant so much that she largely kept the sport alive in the USA. And even outside of sport, I think many people can identify with themselves. Her story is pretty great.

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