Jessie Diggins powers through pain for bronze at 2026 Winter Olympics

Every Olympic Games, stories emerge regarding athletes overcoming incredible odds to realize their dreams.

Jessie Diggins has done that before, and she did it again on Thursday in Milan.

Diggins made history eight years ago along with teammate Kikkan Randall, when the pair won Team USA’s first-ever cross-country skiing gold medals with a team sprint victory at the 2018 Games in Pyeongchang. But she secured her fourth Olympic medal on Thursday, and in dramatic fashion.

The legendary cross-country skier fell during Sunday’s 20-kilometer skiathlon, and suffered bruised ribs as a result of her tumble. But despite the pain, Diggins lined up for the start of Thursday’s women’s 10-kilometer freestyle.

And despite the pain, she fought to the finish to pick up bronze, and the fourth medal of her decorated career:

Frida Karlsson of Sweden took gold with a time of 22:49.2, a stunning pace in the event. Her teammate Ebba Andersson took silver, finishing over 46 seconds behind Karlsson.

The gap from Karlsson to Andersson was bigger than the gap between Andersson and Kateřina Janatová of Czechia.

As for Diggins, she already said that these Games — her fourth — will be her last.

And she already has a medal, and some heroics, to bring home from Italy.