When Jessie Diggins crosses the finish line in a Winter Olympic cross-country skiing race, she is usually gasping for breath, her face flushed with the exertion of pushing herself to the limits. But when she talks about climate change, her tone carries a different urgency — one that isn't measured in split seconds but in decades. For the Olympic champion, protecting winter isn't just about preserving her sport; it's about safeguarding a way of life for future generations.
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Winter Olympic 2026: From Gold Medal Glory to Global Advocacy
Jessie Diggins cemented her place in sports history at the 2018 Winter Olympic in PyeongChang, when she and teammate Kikkan Randall won the United States' first-ever Winter Olympic cross-country skiing gold medal. The victory was hailed as one of the most dramatic finishes in Olympic history, with Diggins surging past her rivals in the final meters.
While that triumph defined her as an athlete, Diggins has since embraced a broader mission: using her platform to raise awareness about climate change. I've been lucky enough to ski all over the world, she has said. But I've also seen firsthand how winters are changing — shorter snow seasons, unpredictable conditions, and a real threat to the places we love. You Can Read Antoine Cyr: A Breakthrough Season in winter Olympic Cross Country Skiing
The Changing Landscape of Winter Olympic Cross-Country Skiing
Winter Olympic Cross-country skiing is a sport deeply tied to natural snow and cold temperatures. In many regions, climate change has already begun to disrupt the traditional season. Winters are arriving later and ending earlier, with inconsistent snowfall patterns creating headaches for athletes, organizers, and fans alike.
International Ski Federation (FIS) data shows that average winter temperatures in many competition areas have risen significantly over the past few decades. In some places, snowmaking has become the only way to ensure a race can be held. We've had races where we were skiing on a ribbon of manmade snow in the middle of a green field, Diggins noted. It's not just sad — it's a warning sign.
For Diggins, these changes don't just affect competition schedules; they erode the very culture of skiing communities. Local clubs that once thrived on reliable winters are struggling to introduce young athletes to the sport. Without access to consistent snow, the next generation of cross-country skiers may never experience the joy that inspired Diggins herself.
Advocacy Beyond the Podium
Diggins's climate activism isn't a side project — it's become an integral part of her identity as an athlete. She has partnered with organizations like Protect Our Winters (POW), a nonprofit that mobilizes the outdoor sports community to take climate action. Through public speaking, media appearances, and social media campaigns, Diggins urges people to recognize the stakes of the climate crisis and to support policies that reduce carbon emissions.
One of her consistent messages is that everyone has a role to play, regardless of whether they ski. You don't have to be an Olympian to make a difference, she says. Call your representatives, vote for climate-conscious policies, and support clean energy. These things matter.
She also emphasizes the importance of personal choices — from reducing waste to cutting down on unnecessary travel — while acknowledging that systemic change is essential. Diggins walks the talk by using public transportation when possible during her European race circuits and offsetting travel emissions through reputable programs.
Balancing Training and Advocacy
The life of an elite athlete is already grueling, with training sessions, competitions, and recovery routines filling nearly every hour. Adding activism could easily become overwhelming, but Diggins has learned to integrate it into her schedule. When you care deeply about something, you find the time, she explains.
During the competitive season, she uses rest days to participate in advocacy events or meet with local communities. In the offseason, she devotes more time to in-depth climate projects, such as working with scientists to understand the latest research and contributing to policy discussions.
Her activism also helps fuel her competitive drive. Knowing I'm fighting for something bigger than myself gives me perspective, Diggins says. If I can inspire even a few people to take action, that's as meaningful to me as winning another medal.
Winter Olympic Cross-Country Skiing as a Climate Barometer
Few sports illustrate the direct impacts of climate change as vividly as Winter Olympic cross-country skiing. The sport's dependence on snow makes it a natural barometer for environmental shifts. Athletes have become unwitting witnesses to the speed of these changes, racing on tracks that are narrower, shorter, and more artificial than ever before.
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This year's World Cup circuit, for example, saw multiple events relocated or canceled due to lack of snow — a trend that's becoming alarmingly common. It's hard to see venues that were once reliable now struggling to put on a race, Diggins admits. But it also strengthens my resolve to keep speaking out.
Inspiring a New Generation of Climate-Conscious Athletes
Diggins is far from alone in her activism. Other winter athletes — from snowboarders to biathletes — have joined the movement, recognizing that the future of their sports depends on urgent climate action. But Diggins's unique position as the face of American Winter Olympic cross-country skiing gives her a particularly powerful voice.
She hopes that young skiers will see activism as a natural extension of athletic excellence. We can't separate the health of our planet from the health of our sports, she says. If you love skiing, you're already a stakeholder in this fight.
In youth clinics and school visits, she often blends skiing tips with conversations about environmental stewardship. By connecting sport with sustainability, she's planting seeds for a generation that values both performance and planet.
Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026: Racing for Gold, Fighting for the Planet
As she prepares for the Winter Olympic Milano Cortina 2026, Diggins remains focused on her competitive goals — but she's equally determined to keep climate advocacy front and center. Italy's mountainous venues may look idyllic now, but they too are vulnerable to rising temperatures and shifting snow patterns.
Diggins hopes the Games will serve as a platform for broader climate discussions, especially given the visibility of winter sports during Olympic years. The Olympics bring the world together, she says. It's the perfect moment to highlight the challenges we face — and the solutions we can pursue.
Her long-term vision is to see the outdoor sports community united in demanding ambitious climate policies, ensuring that future athletes can chase their dreams on real snow, not just artificial tracks.
Winter Olympic Cross-Country Skiing and the Fight to Save Winter
Jessie Diggins's climate crusade reflects a deep truth: athletes don't exist in a vacuum. The environments that shape them are just as important as the training that hones their skills. For Winter Olympic cross-country skiing, that environment is winter itself — a season now under threat.
Through her gold medal achievements and tireless advocacy, Diggins is proving that the fight to save winter is a race worth running. Whether she's pushing through the pain in the final stretch of a race or pushing for legislative change, her determination is the same. Every race has a finish line, she says. But the race to protect our planet? That's one we have to win — for all of us.
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