World champion skier Jessie Diggins made history in 2018 when she became the first American to win an Olympic gold medal for cross-country skiing. It was the biggest achievement in what had already been a remarkable career by any standards and saw Diggins chosen as her country’s flag bearer for the closing ceremony of the games. More recently, the six-time American national champion finished sixth in the hotly-contested 2019/20 FIS World Cup and published her autobiography, Brave Enough, which tells of her sporting career and recalls her teenage battle with an eating disorder.

Diggins was born in 1991 in Minnesota, a state with plenty of opportunities for skiing. By the time she reached high school, Diggins’ talent was beginning to be noticed as she started competing in junior competitions. She won her first national championship medal in 2011, taking gold in the sprint freestyle. The following year, she took three national gold medals, cementing her reputation as a potential world-beater. In 2013, she won her first world medal, another gold, in the team sprint at the World Championships in Italy. The following year, she travelled to Russia for her first Winter Olympics and achieved two top-ten finishes. Over the following years, Diggins could found on the podium at most major national and world events. In 2018, she went with Team USA to South Korea, finishing in the top ten of every event and ultimately winning her historic gold medal.

Away from the piste, Diggins is a committed social activist, particularly when it comes to engaging young women in sports and raising awareness of climate change.