History of Jessie Diggins in Timeline

Jessica "Jessie" Diggins is a highly accomplished American cross-country skier, recognized as the most successful U.S. skier in the sport's history. Her achievements include three World Cup overall titles, three Olympic medals, and seven World Championship medals, along with numerous other victories. Beyond her athletic achievements, Diggins is an advocate for climate change awareness and eating disorder awareness, leveraging her platform to promote positive change.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1976: Bill Koch's Olympic Silver

In 1976, Bill Koch won a silver medal in the men's 30 km event, which was the first American cross-country skiing medal before Diggins and Randall's gold in 2018.

1982: Bill Koch's Win

In 1982, Bill Koch won the men's title in FIS Cross-Country World Cup.

1982: Koch's overall title

In 1982, Bill Koch won the men's title, to be the only Americans to win overall season titles for a World Cup cross-country ski circuit before Diggins.

August 26, 1991: Jessica Diggins Born

On August 26, 1991, Jessica Diggins, who would become the most accomplished American cross-country skier, was born.

2008: Top-Ranked Cross-Country Skier

In 2008, Diggins was the top-ranked girls' individual cross-country skier in the Minnesota high school rankings and won the Korteloppet races as part of the American Birkebeiner festival in Wisconsin.

2009: United States Junior National Sprint Title

In 2009, Diggins won the Korteloppet races as part of the American Birkebeiner festival in Wisconsin and also won the United States Junior National Sprint title on March 9.

2010: Stillwater Area High School Graduation

In 2010, Jessie Diggins graduated from Stillwater Area High School.

2010: Seeking Treatment for Bulimia

In 2010, Jessie Diggins sought treatment for bulimia at the Emily Program.

2010: U.S. World Junior Cross-Country Ski Team

In 2010, Jessie Diggins was added to the United States World Junior Cross-Country Ski Team.

2011: United States Ski Team

In 2011, Diggins was named to the United States Ski Team and competed at her first World Championships that year.

2011: FIS Cross-Country World Cup Debut

In 2011, Jessie Diggins began competing in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup.

2013: Gold Medal at FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

In 2013, Diggins won a gold medal with Kikkan Randall in the team sprint at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Val di Fiemme.

2013: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Medal

In 2013, Jessie Diggins began winning seven medals at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

2014: U23 World Championships Silver Medal

In 2014, Diggins won silver in the individual sprint at the U23 World Championships, and was also named to the U.S. team for the 2014 Winter Olympics where she placed eighth in the 15 kilometer skiathlon.

2015: Silver Medal in FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

In 2015, Diggins won the silver medal in the 10-kilometer freestyle race in the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Falun.

2017: Third Overall in Tour de Ski

In 2017, Diggins finished third overall in the 2017–18 Tour de Ski, becoming the first American to finish on the podium in the overall classification.

2017: Medals at Nordic World Ski Championships

In 2017, at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland, Diggins won a silver medal in the freestyle sprint and a bronze medal in the classic team sprint with Sadie Bjornsen, becoming the first American to win four World Championship medals in cross-country skiing.

April 2018: Climate Change Advocacy on Capitol Hill

In April 2018, Diggins traveled with Protect Our Winters (POW) to Capitol Hill to raise concerns over climate change.

2018: Olympic Gold Medal in Team Sprint

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Diggins and Randall won a gold medal in the women's team sprint, becoming the first American cross-country skiers to achieve this feat.

2018: Olympic Gold Medal

In 2018, Jessie Diggins and teammate Kikkan Randall won the United States' first-ever cross-country skiing gold medal in the team sprint at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

2018: Second Overall in World Cup Season

In the 2017–2018 season, Diggins finished third overall in the Tour de Ski and finished second overall in the World Cup season standings.

2019: Spokesperson for the Emily Program

In 2019, Diggins became a spokesperson for the Emily Program, an organization that provides treatment for eating disorders.

2020: Overall World Cup 2020-2021 Season

In 2020, Diggins placed atop the overall World Cup 2020–2021 season standings, claiming the biggest annual prize in cross-country skiing in 2021.

2020: Publication of Brave Enough

In 2020, Diggins wrote an autobiography, "Brave Enough", about her athletic accomplishments and personal struggles with bulimia as a teenager.

2020: FIS Cross-Country World Cup

In 2020, Jessie Diggins won the women's overall title for the 2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, becoming the first American woman to win a season title in 2021.

2021: Overall individual title

For the 2023–24 World Cup season, Diggins claimed the overall individual title—her second title after winning it in 2021.

2021: Tour de Ski and World Cup Title

In 2021, Diggins won the Tour de Ski, a first for an American, and topped the overall World Cup 2020–2021 season standings.

2021: World Cup Overall Title

In 2021, Jessie Diggins won the women's overall title for the 2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, becoming the first American woman to win a season title.

December 2022: American Record for World Cup Wins

In December 2022, Diggins broke the American record for World Cup cross-country ski wins with her fourteenth such win.

2022: Olympic Medals and Achievements

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Diggins won bronze in the women's sprint and silver in the women's 30 kilometer freestyle, becoming the first American to win an individual Olympic medal in a cross-country sprint and the first non-European to win a medal in the 30km freestyle event.

2022: 2022 Winter Olympics Medals

During the 2022 Winter Olympics, Diggins won a silver medal in the 30-kilometer freestyle and a bronze medal in the individual sprint, solidifying her status as the most decorated American cross-country skier of all time.

2022: Marriage to Wade Poplawski

In 2022, Diggins married Wade Poplawski, a former minor league hockey player.

2023: Relapse in Recovery

After 12 years in recovery, Diggins said in media interviews that she had a relapse in 2023 ahead of the cross-country ski season.

2023: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2023

At the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships 2023 in Slovenia, Diggins and teammate Julia Kern won bronze in the team sprint, and Diggins won gold in the 10 km freestyle, the first top medal for an American in an individual event at any cross-country skiing world championship.

2023: Individual Event Gold Medal

In 2023, Diggins became the first American to win an individual event gold medal by winning the 10 kilometer freestyle.

2023: Most Successful Season

Jessie Diggins posted the most successful season ever for an American skier during the 2023–24 FIS Cross-Country World Cup and won the 2023–24 Tour de Ski, her second victory in the competition.

February 24, 2024: American Birkebeiner Win

On February 24, 2024, Diggins competed in the American Birkebeiner in Wisconsin and won the 50 km freestyle race.

2024: Stifel Loppet Cup in Minneapolis

After winning an Olympic gold medal, Diggins successfully lobbied for the United States to host a World Cup cross-country skiing event, culminating in the 2024 Stifel Loppet Cup held in Minneapolis.

2024: FIS Cross-Country World Cup Win

In 2024, Diggins won the 2024–25 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, overcoming an early season foot injury.

2024: FIS Cross-Country World Cup overall titles

In the 2023–24 season, Jessie Diggins won FIS Cross-Country World Cup overall titles.

2025: FIS Nordic World Ski Championships Medals

In 2025, Jessie Diggins had won seven medals, including two golds, at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

2026: 2026 Winter Olympics

At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, she suffered a crash during the first race of the games, with bruised ribs impacting her breathing, but fought her way to finish eighth in the skiathlon and won the bronze medal in the 10 kilometer freestyle.