Team USA’s Jessie Diggins today claimed her first-ever Skiathlon World Cup victory at the World Cup in Trondheim, Norway. America’s most successful cross-country skier of all time showed incredible tenacity and strategy at the first-ever 20km women’s skiathlon ahead of the Olympics.
Diggins, who announced her intention to retire at the end of the 2025–26 season, was in the group of 10 leaders for the entire race but towards the finish managed to push away from the group, claiming a dominant victory with her signature up-hill sprint on the last few hundred meters.
She left the other Norwegian and Swedish competitors meters behind her as she sprinted towards the finish, claiming her 30th World Cup victory. The 34-year-old Minnesota native was once again unbeatable in her final up-hill sprint—a quality that has become her trademark move.
“I sound like a broken record, but we win as a team and have success as a team. It takes all of us, and today was for them.”— Jessie Diggins
Rounding out the podium at the skiathlon at Trondheim today were local favorite Heidi Weng, who crossed a second behind Diggins, followed by Ebba Andersson from Sweden, who crossed the finish 2.3 seconds behind the American. Diggins’ teammates Julia Kern finished in 25th, Rosie Brennan in 29th, Alayna Sonnesyn in 44th, and Kendall Kramer in 48th.
- Related: Jessie Diggins Secures Third World Cup Overall Title & Cements Legacy in Cross-Country Skiing
The men’s race earlier today was won by Norway’s Johannes Hösflot Kläbo, who had won his 100th World Cup just the day prior in the sprint event. Team USA’s Gus Schumacher finished in 21st place, Ben Ogden in 25th, and Kevin Bolger in 51st, JC Schoonmaker in 52nd, Zanden McMullen in 53rd, and Luke Jager in 55th.
Skiathlon has been part of the Olympics since 2006, but 2026 will mark the first time the discipline will be carried out across 20km for both men and women. Previously, the women competed across a shortened course. Today’s incredible performance shows that Diggins will be a force to be reckoned with for the upcoming Winter Games in several of the cross-country races, including the 20km skiathlon.
The FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Trondheim continues tomorrow, Sunday, with the 10 km skating events for both men and women.
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