History of Jessie Diggins in Timeline

Jessica "Jessie" Diggins is an American cross-country skiing icon, recognized as the most successful U.S. cross-country skier ever. Her impressive career boasts three World Cup overall titles, three Olympic medals, and seven World Championship medals, alongside a collection of other event victories, marking her dominance in the sport. Beyond her athletic achievements, Diggins actively leverages her platform to advocate for critical issues like climate change and eating disorder awareness.

Sections (3)

Full Timeline Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

1976: Bill Koch wins silver in the men's 30 km at the Olympics

In 1976, Bill Koch won the silver medal in the men's 30 km at the Olympics, marking the last American cross-country skiing medal before Diggins and Randall's gold in 2018.

1982: Bill Koch wins FIS Cross-Country World Cup title

In 1982, Bill Koch won the men's title in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, the first American to win one since Bill Koch in 1982. This was before Jessie Diggins would win the title in 2021.

1982: Koch wins World Cup title

In 1982, Bill Koch won the men's title, prior to Diggins winning the title in 2021.

August 26, 1991: Jessica Diggins is born

On August 26, 1991, Jessica Diggins, an American cross-country skier, was born.

2008: Diggins is top-ranked in Minnesota high school rankings

In 2008, Jessie Diggins was the top-ranked girls' individual cross-country skier in the Minnesota high school rankings.

2009: Diggins wins United States Junior National Sprint title

In 2009, Jessie Diggins won the United States Junior National Sprint title on March 9, leading to her removal from the Minnesota high school rankings.

2010: Diggins graduates from Stillwater Area High School

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

2010: Diggins seeks treatment for bulimia

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

2010: Diggins joins the United States World Junior Cross-Country Ski Team

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

2011: Diggins competes in first FIS Cross-Country World Cup

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

2011: Diggins named to United States Ski Team

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

2013: Diggins wins gold at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

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

2014: Diggins wins silver at the U23 World Championships and competes in the Winter Olympics

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

2015: Diggins wins silver at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

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

2017: Diggins finishes third overall in the Tour de Ski

In 2017, Jessie 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: Diggins wins two medals at the Nordic World Ski Championships

In 2017, at the Nordic World Ski Championships in Lahti, Finland, Jessie Diggins won a silver medal in the freestyle sprint and a bronze medal in the classic team sprint with Sadie Bjornsen.

April 2018: Diggins travels to Capitol Hill with POW

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

2018: Diggins and Randall win gold at the Winter Olympics

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

2018: Diggins finishes second overall in the World Cup season standings

In 2018, Jessie Diggins finished second overall in the World Cup 2017–2018 season standings.

2019: Diggins becomes spokesperson for the Emily Program

In 2019, Jessie Diggins became a spokesperson for the Emily Program, an organization that provides treatment for eating disorders, and revealed her experience seeking treatment for bulimia in 2010.

2020: Diggins writes autobiography, Brave Enough

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

2020: Diggins competes in World Cup

In the 2020-2021 season, Jessie Diggins competed in the World Cup, ultimately leading to her winning the title in 2021.

2020: Diggins competes in the 2020-21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup

In the 2020-21 season, Jessie Diggins competed in the FIS Cross-Country World Cup, ultimately winning the overall title in 2021.

2021: Diggins wins first overall individual title

After winning it in 2021, Diggins secured another individual title for the 2023-24 World Cup season.

2021: Diggins wins Tour de Ski and overall World Cup season title

In 2021, Jessie Diggins won the Tour de Ski, a first for an American. She also placed atop the overall World Cup 2020–2021 season standings, claiming the biggest annual prize in cross-country skiing.

2021: Diggins wins overall title for FIS Cross-Country World Cup

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: Diggins breaks American record for World Cup wins

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

2022: Diggins wins silver and bronze at the Winter Olympics

At the 2022 Winter Olympics, Diggins won the silver medal in the 30 kilometer freestyle and the bronze medal in the individual sprint, becoming the most decorated American cross-country skier of all time.

2022: Diggins marries Wade Poplawski

In 2022, Jessie Diggins married Wade Poplawski, a former minor league hockey player from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

2023: Diggins has most successful season and wins the 2023-24 Tour de Ski

During the 2023–24 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, Jessie Diggins had her most successful season. In 2023, she won the 2023–24 Tour de Ski, marking her second victory in the competition.

2023: Diggins wins first individual gold at World Championships

In 2023, Jessie Diggins became the first American to win an individual event gold medal by winning the 10 km freestyle at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships.

2023: Diggins has a relapse

In 2023, Jessie Diggins revealed that she had a relapse in her eating disorder recovery ahead of the cross-country ski season.

2023: Diggins wins gold at FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

In 2023, at the FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Slovenia, Jessie Diggins and teammate Julie Kern won bronze in the team sprint. Two days later, Diggins won gold in the 10 km freestyle, which was the first top medal for an American in an individual event at any cross-country skiing world championship.

February 24, 2024: Diggins wins the American Birkebeiner

On February 24, 2024, while on break from the World Cup ski tour, Jessie Diggins competed in the American Birkebeiner in Wisconsin and won the 50 km freestyle race.

2024: United States hosts World Cup cross-country skiing event

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