Jessie Diggins added another chapter to her Olympic legacy Thursday, capturing a bronze medal in the women’s 10-kilometer interval start freestyle race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games. The 34-year-old American pushed through visible pain from injured ribs to reach the podium, marking her third consecutive Olympics with at least one medal.

Under clear skies at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Diggins delivered a gritty performance in one of her strongest events. She crossed the finish line after an all-out final push, her face reflecting both exhaustion and determination before she collapsed into the snow. Teammate Hailey Swirbul rushed to her side as Diggins tried to recover from the effort.

Diggins had suffered a hard crash earlier in the Games during the skiathlon, a demanding race that combines classic and freestyle techniques. The fall left her with injured ribs, adding another layer of difficulty to an already grueling Olympic schedule. Despite that setback, she refused to withdraw and instead relied on the mental toughness that has defined her career.

Swirbul later remarked on Diggins’ ability to endure pain, comparing her discomfort to injuries she had seen while working as an EMT. Even so, Diggins managed to summon one final surge down the stretch to secure the bronze.

The race was dominated by Sweden’s Frida Karlsson, who claimed gold with a commanding performance, finishing well ahead of the field. Fellow Swede Ebba Andersson earned silver. Diggins battled Norway’s Astrid Øyre Slind for the final podium spot, ultimately edging her by just three-tenths of a second in a razor-thin finish.

This medal continues Diggins’ remarkable Olympic streak. She first made history at the 2018 PyeongChang Games when she and Kikkan Randall won gold in the team sprint freestyle — the first-ever Olympic gold for the United States in cross-country skiing. The victory helped revitalize interest in the sport back home and ended a decades-long medal drought for American skiers.

At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Diggins built on that success by winning both silver and bronze medals, cementing her status as one of the most accomplished U.S. cross-country skiers in history.

Ahead of the Milano Cortina Games, Diggins spoke about the mindset that has fueled her performances, especially in painful or exhausting moments. She described asking herself how she wants to feel at the finish line, using that question as motivation to push through suffering and avoid future regret. That philosophy appeared to guide her once again in Italy.

The 10-kilometer freestyle is considered one of Diggins’ signature races, a discipline that suits her stamina and ability to pace strategically before delivering a powerful finish. Even with injured ribs, she executed her race plan effectively enough to secure another Olympic medal.

Diggins is scheduled to compete in three additional events at these Games. However, she has already announced that this will be her final Olympic appearance and that she plans to retire from competitive skiing later this spring.

With her bronze in Val di Fiemme, Diggins not only demonstrated resilience but also extended a legacy that has reshaped American cross-country skiing. From breaking historic barriers in 2018 to consistently reaching the podium across three Olympics, she leaves the sport as a trailblazer whose determination — even in visible pain — continues to inspire.

VAL DI FIEMME, Italy – U.S. cross-country skier Jessie Diggins added another milestone to her illustrious career by earning bronze in the women’s 10km interval start freestyle race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Despite competing with injured ribs, the 34-year-old delivered a determined performance at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on February 12, crossing the finish line with an intense final push before collapsing in exhaustion on the finish line snow.

Hailey Swirbul, a fellow member of the U.S. team, was quick to reach Diggins and praised her resilience. “She’s so tough, she digs deep,” Swirbul said. She added, “I worked as an EMT last winter and I saw some people in pain for broken bones and Jessie looked comparable, but she’s okay.”

Diggins sustained her rib injury earlier in these Games after a crash during the skiathlon, a combined classic and freestyle event. Nevertheless, she persevered through Thursday’s 10km freestyle, which she has previously described as one of her strongest events. Swedish skier Frida Karlsson captured gold with a commanding victory, finishing 46 seconds ahead of compatriot Ebba Andersson, who claimed silver. Diggins narrowly held off Norway’s Astrid Oyre Slind, beating her by just 0.3 seconds to secure third place.

This bronze marks Diggins’ third consecutive Olympic Games with a medal-winning performance. She broke new ground for American cross-country skiing in 2018 by partnering with Kikkan Randall to win gold in the team sprint freestyle in Pyeongchang, ending a long medal drought for the United States in the sport. That achievement was only the second U.S. Olympic cross-country medal, following Bill Koch’s silver in 1976. At the Beijing Games in 2022, Diggins added to her medal tally with a silver and another bronze.

Before the competition in Italy, Diggins spoke with NPR about her mentality in elite competitions, remarking on the need to find inner resolve. “I’ve almost never failed to mentally find the will to dig for it,” Diggins said. “Basically I ask myself one very simple question. ‘How do I want to feel at the finish line?’ I don’t like living with regrets. I don’t want to ever look back and think ‘What if?’”

Looking ahead, Diggins is expected to take part in three more events at these Winter Games. She has publicly stated that the Milan-Cortina Olympics will be her final Olympic appearance, as she plans to retire from competitive skiing at the end of the season.