She has prepared all season, yet she is not ready. Today, Jessie Diggins will end her career and fears the moment she is no longer a cross-country skier.

On Sunday evening, Jessie Diggins will race her final World Cup event. After the 20km mass start on home soil in Lake Placid, she will retire.

Also Read – Lake Placid World Cup 2025/2026: Start lists and start times for the 20km Mass Start

The 34-year-old announced the decision back in November, after rumors had circulated for several weeks. Still, Diggins believes the final race will come as a shock.

“I’ve processed it throughout the season, but I fear it will hit me like a car crash on Sunday,” Diggins told NBC.

She explains that her decision to retire is not motivated by a lack of motivation. Rather, she no longer wants to live the lifestyle required to continue competing. It comes down to being away from friends and family, homesickness, and struggles with eating disorders.

Leaves a void

There is little doubt that Diggins will leave a void behind. Norwegian stars also say they will miss the energetic competitor.

“We’re the same age, so it will feel strange that she won’t be there anymore. Yes… it will be strange,” Heidi Weng told Nettavisen.

Astrid Øyre Slind agrees. She also believes Diggins has been a pioneer for American cross-country skiing.

“From being a nation no one really considered in cross-country skiing to winning multiple Olympic medals with several athletes. Everything is in place now, and much of that is thanks to her. Now it will be up to the men’s side to carry it forward so it doesn’t become completely empty of profiles.”

An outstanding career

Since her World Cup debut in the Drammen sprint in 2011, the American star has put the USA firmly on the cross-country map. She has competed in 384 World Cup races, reached the podium 90 times, and claimed 34 victories.

This winter, she took Olympic bronze in the 10km despite racing with a broken rib. She already had three Olympic medals: silver in the 30km and bronze in the sprint in 2022, as well as gold in the team sprint in 2018.

From the World Championships, she has seven medals, including two golds. The first came in Val di Fiemme in 2013 in the team sprint with Kikkan Randall. The second came ten years later in Planica, in the 10km freestyle.

New plans ahead

Now a new chapter begins for Diggins, and job offers are already pouring in.

During the World Cup earlier in March, she hinted at plans to become a motivational speaker.

“Cross-country skiing is a form of performance. You have one moment to show yourself; go out on the course and try to put on a show. A show that makes people go home inspired and want to get out and move,” Jessie Diggins told Iltalehti.

“I want them to leave the room really feeling something. But I don’t want to do that by pushing my body to the absolute limit anymore.”

On Sunday, Jessie Diggins will race her final World Cup event. The mass start in Lake Placid begins at 17:30 CET.

Sunday, March 22: 20km Mass Start Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 17:30 CET: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Men
• 19:30 CET: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

Start lists can be found HERE FOR WOMEN and HERE FOR MEN

FACTS Lake Placid World Cup Season 2025/2026

• When: Friday, March 20, to Sunday, March 22, 2026 
• Who: Elite national skiers – women and men
• Where: Lake Placid, USA
• What: FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Lake Placid, USA

PROGRAM

Friday, March 20: 10km Interval Start Classic (More details can be found HERE)

• 18:00 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic, Women
• 20:00 CET: 10km Interval Start Classic, Men

Saturday, March 21: Sprint Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 15:30 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Women
• 16:05 CET: Sprint Qualification Freestyle, Men
• 18:00 CET: Sprint Final Freestyle, Women
• 18:30 CET: Sprint Final Freestyle, Men

Sunday, March 22: 20km Mass Start Freestyle (More details can be found HERE)

• 17:30 CET: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Men
• 19:30 CET: 20km Mass Start Freestyle, Women

Read More: Cross-country skiing World Cup: Calendar for the 2025/2026 winter season

Additional information about the Cross-Country Skiing World Cup can be found HERE

Are you interested in traditional cross-country skiing? Click HERE and read more about it.