Jessica Diggins

Jessica Diggins is the first American to earn gold at the cross-country skiing winter Olympics. It’s no wonder she was chosen to bear the flag at the closing ceremony. She’s also the first American to be decorated four times by the World Championships. Her signature look is racing with sparkles on her cheeks; with 26 individual podiums and six wins to her name, she’s no stranger to shining bright.

Her parents first introduced her to skiing by putting her in their backpacks while they glided cross-country. She became a part of the Minnesota Youth Ski League at just three years old. Soon after, she was skiing year round.. It was clear that being a professional athlete was her dream, so she went all in by deferring her academic scholarship to Northern Michigan University to race with the Central Cross-Country Elite Team. It wasn’t long before she was noticed by the US Ski and Snowboard team, joining them the following year, as well as her current club, Stratton Mountain School T2, the year after that.

Now, she’s world renown, earning her sponsors from reputable companies such as Land Rover, LL Bean, Oakley, Nuun, Fastenal, Slumberland Furniture, Steger Mukluks and Moccasins, Pro Bar, Salomon, Swix, as well as the Emily Program, which is a program for eating disorders which Diggins attended herself during her struggles with bulimia; now, she’s their spokesperson.

Outside of skiing, Diggins wrote her autobiography, Brave Enough, about her journey to becoming an Olympian and World Champion. In addition, she also works with multiple charities, including being on the board of the Share Winter Foundation, as well as being ambassador for both Fast and Female and WithAll, which also helps people struggling with eating disorders.