Jessie Diggins Collapses in Pain After Olympic Bronze Win: “Skied Out of Body”
Jessie Diggins showcased incredible determination during the women’s 10-kilometer interval start at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Despite suffering from a rib injury, she secured the bronze medal, adding to her impressive Olympic career tally.
Race Highlights and Performance
The race, held on a challenging course in Milan Cortina, was won by Swedish athlete Frida Karlsson. Karlsson claimed her second gold medal, finishing with a time of 22 minutes, 49.2 seconds. Fellow Swedish skier Ebba Andersson secured the silver, finishing 46.6 seconds behind.
- Gold Medal: Frida Karlsson (Sweden) – 22:49.2
- Silver Medal: Ebba Andersson (Sweden) – 23:35.8
- Bronze Medal: Jessie Diggins (USA) – 24:38.9
Diggins completed the race 49.7 seconds behind Karlsson. Notably, she collapsed after crossing the finish line, visibly in pain but proud of her resilience.
Injury and Challenges
Leading up to this event, Diggins experienced significant challenges. She fell during the opening Skiathlon race, bruising her ribs. This injury impaired her performance in the individual sprint, where she did not advance past the heats.
After the race, Diggins expressed her struggles, stating, “Honestly, I think I’m the happiest, most grateful bronze medallist in the whole world.” She emphasized the difficulty of the past week, reflecting on her pain and the mental toll it took on her.
Career Overview
This marks Diggins’ fourth Olympic appearance. In the 2018 Games, she made history by becoming part of the first U.S. team to win a gold medal in cross-country skiing. At the 2022 Winter Olympics, she also earned a bronze and a silver medal. She announced her retirement plans after the 2026 Olympics in a heartfelt social media post last November.
Future Aspirations
Despite her decision to retire, Diggins remains optimistic about her future. She stated, “It’s going to be hard to step away from this sport and team that I love so much.”
With her strong legacy in mind, Diggins continues to inspire many, showcasing exceptional spirit on and off the track at Filmogaz.com.
