Another winter sports icon is hanging up her skis, as Team USA cross-country star Jessie Diggins competed in her final Olympic race on Sunday, finishing fifth in the inaugural women's 50km mass start classic to round out her decorated career.
"If you had told me even a year ago, I'd be in the fight for a bronze medal in a 50K classic, I would not have believed you," said the four-time Olympic medalist. "I can confidently say I could not possibly have tried harder or gotten more out of my body."
"I got to end [my Olympic career] on a beautiful day and at a venue that I love so much," Diggins added. "I'm just really proud of this last Olympics, really grateful, and really happy. I'm leaving here full of joy."
The 34-year-old revolutionized the sport in the US, joining teammate Kikkan Randall in leading the nation to its first-ever cross-country gold medal when the pair won the team sprint at the 2018 PyeongChang Games.
Diggins then picked up three more medals, earning silver in the 30km freestyle and bronze in the individual sprint at the 2022 Beijing Olympics before taking bronze in last week's 10km interval start freestyle.
Saying that this season would be her last as a professional, Diggins also announced plans to close out her career at the World Cup finals in March.
"I'm just so proud of being gritty and being able to give my best and not just in a bib, off the snow as well, doing what I need to do to be a good human and try to make the world a little bit better," she said.
