Article by Luminița Paul – Published on Thursday, 12 February 2026, 19:24 / Updated on Thursday, 12 February 2026 19:29
American cross-country skier Jessie Diggins (34) won the bronze medal in the 10km freestyle with an interval start, despite competing with a rib injury sustained in the schiaathlon a few days earlier.
SWEDISH Frida Karlsson (26 years old) put his second Olympic title on his record at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium, winning the 10 km freestyle event with an interval start, after crossing the finish line first in the skiathlon.
Exactly the test in which the American woman Jessie Diggins he fell and injured his ribs badly. Despite this medical problem, the veteran athlete, in the final season of her career, took the start in the 10 km freestyle. And not only that, he managed to secure his place on the bronze step of the podium.
Another Olympic coin sits next to gold in the team sprint at Pyeongchang 2018, silver in the 30km freestyle at Beijing 2022, where he also won bronze in the individual sprint.
Immediately after crossing the finish line, she collapsed on the snow crying out in pain. She came 49.7 seconds behind the winner and 3.1 behind the silver winner, another Swede, Ebba Andersson.
After being injured in the skiathlon, Diggins also competed in the individual sprint, but was eliminated in the heats.
Jessie Diggins: 'I felt like I was skiing outside my body the whole time'
“I need a new body,” said the American at the end, quoted by AP. “Honestly, I think I'm the happiest and most grateful bronze medalist in the whole world. It's been a hell of a painful week. Two days ago I was like, 'I don't know how I'm going to do it'.”
Jessie Diggins helped by compatriot Hailey Swirbul Photo: Guliver/GettyImages
Before taking to the podium, Jessie hugged her rivals from Sweden as the crowd, which included a large group of friends and family members, chanted: “Jessie! Jessie!”.
“I felt like I was skiing outside my body the whole time. And I tried to fight for every second and give it my allDiggins said.I lay awake at night with my ribs cracking. It was very difficult“, she emphasized.
Her medal is the second for Team USA in cross-country skiing at the 2026 Olympics, following Ben Ogden's silver in the men's sprint. But Diggins said the pain during the race made her unaware of her position in the standings.
“I had no idea where I wasshe said.It was disconcerting and very, very painful.”
Showing her emotion, Diggins said she had received video messages of support from elderly relatives who were unable to make the trip, adding: “I saw my husband and got a big kiss before the start and that helped a lot“.
Jessie Diggins in the 10 km freestyle at the 2026 Olympics Photo: Guliver/GettyImages
Sweden's cross-country skiers have so far won seven of the nine medals awarded at Milano Cortina. Karlsson said she felt confident of victory after a strong climb before the finish, adding that she would celebrate with her teammates later with a victory cake prepared by the team's chefs.
“I was full of energy,” she said, giggling. “I felt the pain, but that was after the finish line. The pleasant feeling came on the last climb“, concluded the double Olympic champion from Milan Cortina.
