Jessie Diggins is the Olympian Testing the Limits of Endurance

New York Times - WorldCenter-LeftEN 18 min read 100% complete by Reid ForgraveFebruary 5, 2026 at 11:01 AM

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long article 18 min

Jessie Diggins, considered the best American cross-country skier, demonstrated her exceptional endurance at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Despite suffering from severe food poisoning the day before, she competed in the women’s 30-kilometer freestyle race. The race took place in brutal conditions with Siberian winds and extreme cold in Zhangjiakou, China. Diggins' determination stemmed from her and teammate Kikkan Randall's historic gold medal win in 2018, the first for the U.S. in cross-country skiing. Despite feeling unwell, she chose to race, driven by her love for the sport and the knowledge that competitors would have to overcome her to win. Diggins ultimately pushed through the pain to secure a medal.

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Key Player Opposition Context

United States 40% Lake Baikal 40% Mongolian steppe 40% China 50% Kikkan Randall 50% Zhangjiakou 60% Beijing Winter Olympics 70% Jessie Diggins ×7100%

Keywords

jessie diggins 100% cross-country skiing 90% endurance 80% winter olympics 70% 30-kilometer freestyle 60% beijing 60% pain cave 50% food poisoning 50% kikkan randall 40%