Industry News
The documentary THRESHOLD about American cross-country skier Jessie Diggins showcases the struggles, challenges, and reality of her battle with an eating disorder. Diggins is a four-time Olympic medalist and the most decorated American cross-country skier in history. The documentary shows an intimate behind-the-scenes look at how a person like Diggins, who is at the top of the Nordic skiing world, dealt with the pain, vulnerability, and recovery.
The documentary took place over one season, with cameras rolling, capturing Diggins as she traveled around the world competing. The project started in March 2023 by producers Lars and Torsten Brinkema, who met Diggins at the U.S. ski team training camp in Bend, Oregon. Diggins and the Brinkema all grew up in Minnesota, where she is a cross-country skiing legend. “We had looked up to her because she’s a Minnesota icon and had posters of her on our wall,” Torsten Brinkema told SnowBrains in an interview.
The two brothers wanted to make a feature film about Diggins because there is not a lot of coverage for cross-country skiing. At the camp, Diggins and the Brinkemas connected right away, and a month later, she opened up to them about having a relapse in her eating disorder. The brothers were taken aback by the vulnerability that she was showing on camera. They thought that if there was anything that could make cross-country skiing more accessible to a wider audience, it would be Diggins’ mental health journey and vulnerability going through the process. This feature documentary gives unprecedented access to Diggins and the people closest to her.
The film does an outstanding job of displaying Diggins in a raw and unfiltered manner. Her constant pursuit of perfection, relentless training, and her incredible ability to cope with pain. “She’s always has a smile on her face, Brinkema said. “But then again, there’s this behind the scenes that I feel like we have captured a side of her that the world hasn’t seen yet.
A study has found that that many elite athletes suffer from mental health struggles, ranging from depression (17%), anxiety (10%), eating disorders (22%), and sleep disorders (18%). Eating disorders in particular are very concerning because they can be fatal.
The film will hopefully resonate with her fans or anyone battling the illness, and give them the courage to know that they are not alone and that they can beat it. “The fact that here’s this person who’s a gold medalist, that’s one of the best skiers in the world, and she’s just like you and me, and she can face the same challenges,” Brinkema said.
The film displays Diggins’ commitment to the hard work of recovery, and Diggins reclaiming her health and her dreams. She remains in the sport she loves, learning how to balance ambition with care while speaking out about mental health and athlete well-being. Diggins offers something rare to those living in silence: proof that relapse is not failure and that asking for help is not weakness.
- Related: Inside the Silent Battle: The Prevalence of Eating Disorders Among Elite Winter Sports Athletes
Diggins is currently competing in the 2026 Olympic Games in six different events, where she has won a bronze medal. As one of the most dominant athletes in the history of Team USA, she speaks from deep experience about resilience, overcoming adversity, teamwork, mental toughness, and being at your best when it matters most. THRESHOLD is ultimately a film about hope. “We feel really honored that she kind of trusted us with that perspective,” Brinkema said. “Jesse told us, ‘This is the story that my 18-year-old self desperately needed to hear.'” THRESHOLD will premiere on Peacock on Monday, February 23.
