Jessie Diggins is a gold favorite in every Olympic event. Just ahead of the opening race, she opens up about fear and the mental turmoil that has overshadowed her Olympic preparations.

Jessie Diggins already has three Olympic medals and is regarded as one of the biggest gold medal favorites across all events. However, in the lead-up to the opening competition, she speaks candidly about fear and distress that have weighed heavily on her build-up to the Games.

The brutal events that have unfolded in the city of Minneapolis, following interventions by ICE agents against demonstrators that resulted in two deaths, have profoundly affected the American ski star.

Diggins herself is from Afton, Minnesota, and grew up in Saint Paul, just 15 minutes from Minneapolis, where the violent unrest has occurred.

At the press conference ahead of Saturday’s opening event, she put honest words to how the situation has affected her.

Also Read – Olympics 2026: Complete guide to the women’s 20km skiathlon

Frightened and distressed

“For me, this has been truly devastating. I am genuinely worried about the safety of people I know. It has made me scared and worried about them. And I’ve asked myself what the point of racing skis even is,” Diggins says.

“It has been hard to focus on sport with everything that is going on. That’s why it’s important to me that the people closest to me have told me to go to the Olympics and represent them, create joy, and inspire others. And that’s what I will do,” Diggins says, and continues:

“I want to use my platform to lift important issues and talk about things that matter, such as mental health and eating disorders, and help make them less stigmatized, climate change, and much more.”

Also Read: Diggins pays an extremely high price for success

Putting sport into a new perspective

Diggins, who has announced her retirement after the season, hopes to turn the situation into a source of strength.

“The insight I have into how deeply this affects me, how frightened I am by what is happening back home, gives every ski race I compete in a greater purpose and meaning. I feel that I’m not just here for myself.”

The first event of this year’s Olympics is the women’s skiathlon. It takes place on Saturday at 13:00 CET, where Jessie Diggins is one of the very most significant gold favorites.

Read More – Jessie Diggins: portrait of an American icon in her golden final chapter

This is how the 2026 Olympics will be staged

The Winter Olympics in Italy will take place from February 6 to 22.

The cross-country skiing events at the Olympics will be held from February 7 to 22. All competitions will be staged in Val di Fiemme.

In total, there are 12 regular events, six for men and six for women: 20km skiathlon, classic sprint, 10km freestyle, relay, team sprint/paired relay, and 50km classic.

Also Read: Program for cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Complete program for the Winter Olympic Games can be found HERE

Val di Fiemme, a classic Nordic skiing venue, promises thrilling racing on courses steeped in Olympic history. Fans around the World will have the chance to cheer on athletes across all distances, from explosive sprints to grueling marathons.

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