By Gavin Kentch
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In a coordinated media blitz early Wednesday morning, Jessie Diggins and the U.S. Ski Team announced that she will retire at the end of the 2025/2026 season.
The press release from USSS states, “It will be the Afton, Minnesota-born skier’s final season, beginning with the first race in Ruka, Finland, Nov. 28, through Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina and concluding at the Stifel Lake Placid Finals in Lake Placid, New York, March 19-22, 2026.” Sorry, SuperTour Finals.
This news was first reported in early October by Langrenn.com, following FIS race director Simon Caprini breaking the news on a podcast, presumably without Diggins’s blessing. Then a lot of people got mad at him. Meanwhile, on this side of the pond, massive shoutout to my readers for pointing out that USST program director Chris Grover had largely scooped them both on Andy Newell’s podcast back in September. You can find that reporting here. Also, apparently I should listen to more podcasts.
Again, you can read the USST press release here. Here is some additional media telling that story today:
“With the start of her last World Cup season just days away,” the press release concludes, “Diggins is continuing to rewrite the narrative, reminding us that it’s not all about the wins, but about what happens before and after the result. Through her 15-year professional career, countless storylines may define it, but one stands above the rest: with glitter on your face and a commitment to leaving everything on the snow, you can be the best in the world and still find joy in the process.”
Viz., there goes Diggins.
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