Diggins Powers Through a Foggy Holmenkollen 50k; Clinches Distance Crystal Globe
In one of the most weather-y races of the season, the athletes took on the iconic 50k mass start at Holmenkollen under extremely difficult conditions. Heavy fog blanketed the iconic cross country and ski jumping venue throughout the day, making visibility limited to just a few feet at times. "I couldn't see 10 meters in front of me," said Zak Ketterson, post-race. The thick fog, paired with rain and soft, melting snow, posed a challenge for athletes and created a surreal scene for fans both on course and watching the broadcast, as skiers frequently disappeared. Diggins crossed the line in sixth place; Ketterson was 18th.
Despite the demanding conditions, Jessie Diggins delivered another strong performance, finishing sixth in what marked her final European World Cup race of the season, and final 50k of her career. Diggins remained competitive throughout the eight-lap course. Through the laps, Diggins remained in the hunt, behind Sweden's Frida Karlsson. Karlsson, who missed the 50k at the Olympic Winter Games due to sickness, showed up to the Holmenkollen with one thing on her mind: first place.
The 50k also introduced a unique format change on the World Cup circuit. For the first time, the men started 45 minutes before the women, meaning both fields were on course simultaneously. At times throughout the race, men and women skied side-by-side on the Holmenkollen trails—an unusual and historic moment in World Cup racing.
Across the finish line, Diggins was in sixth place; however, first in an even bigger race: the distance World Cup standings. With Saturday’s results, Diggins has officially secured the distance Crystal Globe, her third season in a row, finishing the season with an insurmountable lead of 255 points, beyond the 230 points needed to clinch the Globe. She now sits just points away from clinching the overall Crystal Globe, which would also mark the third consecutive year she has won both the overall and distance titles —and the fourth overall title of her career. Diggins remains the only non-European athlete to ever win the overall World Cup title.
While the trophies will not be formally presented until next weekend, Diggins’ dominance across the season has effectively sealed the distance title ahead of the Stifel Lake Placid World Cup Finals in Lake Placid, where the Crystal Globes will be awarded following the sprint and 20k mass start race on Sunday, March 22.
"We basically wrapped up two Crystal Globes today," said Diggins, post-race. "I still have to race in Lake Placid... not counting my chickens too early, but, it is so cool and meaningful to have done this with the team, and I all I really want to say is a huge thank you to the team... This is really important to me because I feel like it represents years and years of hard work and so much dedication. It makes me really proud to be a part of a caring and loving team that works so hard and is willing to spend so much time on the road to make these big crazy dreams and big goals possible.
To have worn the yellow bib for the last three years of my career, pretty much straight, is an insane dream come true. I mean, 10 years ago, I would have no believed that that would even be possible. So, it's really humbling to live out my childhood dreams and I am sure there are going to be a lot of tears and emotion going into Lake Placid!"
On the men’s side, Zak Ketterson delivered a strong 50k, finishing 18th overall in the demanding conditions. Like the women’s race, the men battled through steady rain, dense fog and deteriorating snow conditions over the full 50 kilometers.
With the European World Cup calendar now complete, the circuit heads home for the final races of the year in Lake Placid, where Diggins will look to officially secure the overall Crystal Globe and close out her storied career in front of the community that got her there.
The podiums of the day were a Norwegian sweep for the men and a Swedish sweep for the women. Einar Hedegart took first in the men's race, followed by Harald Oestberg Amundsen in second and Martin Loewstroem Nyenget in third. Karlsson took the victory for the women, with Linn Svahn in second and Jonna Sundling in third. USA's results were led by Diggins in sixth, Ketterson 18th, Kendall Kramer 41st, Hunter Wonders 45th, Kevin Bolger 48th and Brian Bushey 59th.
