Competitors gape when they hear what World Cup leader Jessie Diggins sacrifices for her career and dream. “It would have crushed me,” says Frida Karlsson.

This summer, Diggins suffered a relapse of the eating disorder she has been battling for many years. She had been symptom-free for over ten years. Diggins wasn’t sure if she could even compete this season. Yet, she has been leading the World Cup since November. This is despite endless travel days and many months away from her family.

“I heard that she said she had spent 40 days with her husband per year. That’s not very much. It’s hard to imagine that situation,” says Frida Karlsson to Expressen, adding:

“I have myself tasted a bit of the same. This winter, I have hardly been home. There were a few weeks around Christmas; apart from that, I haven’t even been there. But it’s worse for the Americans.”

According to Langrenn.com, Diggins also points out that American athletes must sacrifice a lot financially, socially, and personally to travel around to all the World Cup events in Europe from November to March each year.

“I haven’t celebrated Christmas at home since 2011 and often feel homesick. I miss my husband (Diggins got married in the summer of 2023, ed. note) and my family. It’s demanding,” said Diggins ahead of the World Cup rounds in North America in February.

Diggins explains that there is much she must give up, including things many don’t think about:

“I long to sleep in my own bed, to be able to make the food I want when I want it, in my own kitchen. And I miss being able to do simple practical things like washing my clothes when they are dirty. It’s difficult when you live in a hotel,” explains the 32-year-old, who made her World Cup debut in February 2011 and is in her 14th World Cup season.

“I am free to retire whenever I want. But I am still here,” she says.

Must contribute to financing the national teams themselves

The American athletes also emphasize that they largely contribute to financing their entire team and their efforts.

“We must actively contribute to financing our own skiing careers. I have several national team colleagues who work part-time just to be able to compete at all. It’s families, clubs, and sponsors that make it possible for us to travel around the whole season. The same goes for other teams from other overseas continents, such as Canada and Australia,” says Diggins, adding:

“We know from our own experience how much hard work is behind financing efforts at this level, but it’s worth the effort. We experience so much, and we are extremely grateful for the opportunity to do it. We don’t take it for granted.”

Then I would have struggled

Karlsson doubts if she would have endured such a life as Jessie Diggins year after year.

“It really depends a lot on who you have around you. I have my best friends in this team. They are like family to me,” says Frida Karlsson, adding:

“But if it wasn’t like that, if instead it was a team where you would rather withdraw than be with your teammates, then I would have struggled.”

The World Cup concludes this weekend in Falun, Sweden.

See the complete program for the World Cup in Falun, Sweden, at the end of the article.

FACTS Falun World Cup Season 2023/2024

• When: Friday, March 15 to Sunday, March 17
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Falun, Sweden
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Falun, Sweden

PROGRAM

Friday, March 15: Sprint Classic (More details can be found here)

• 12:15 CET: Sprint Qualification C, Women
• 12:50 CET: Sprint Qualification C, Men
• 14:45 CET: Sprint Final C, Women
• 15:15 CET: Sprint Final C, Men

Saturday, March 16: 10km Interval Start Classic (More details can be found here)

• 11:00 CET: 10km Interval Start C, Women
• 14:00 CET: 10km Interval Start C, Men

Sunday, March 17: 20km Mass Start Freestyle (More details can be found here)

• 11:00 CET: 20km Mass Start F, Women
• 14:15 CET: 20km Mass Start F, Men

Read More: World Cup calendar for the 2023/2024 Winter Season