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Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins wins Olympic bronze medal, US first

Skier Jessie Diggins made history at the Winter Olympics in Beijing by becoming the first American woman to win an individual medal in cross-country skiing.

On Tuesday night, the 30-year-old skier won a bronze medal in the women’s free sprint out of the 91 competitors who started the race.

Sweden's Maja Dahlqvist won the silver medal and Jonna Sundling took gold.

Diggins, back for her third Olympics, landed in sixth place four days ago at during the 15K race that was plagued by harsh weather conditions. Primed with experience and becoming familiar with the course, led her to winning another piece of medal to add to her massive collection.

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She is the most decorated American cross-country skier in world championship history and won Olympic gold during a team event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018.

Diggins won the Tour de Ski in 2021, making her the first U.S. skier to take the title.

She previously told USA TODAY that giving it her all emotionally and physically and leaving nothing on the table will be enough for her. 

"If I can do all those things, and cross that finish line and look back and go, that was it. That was my best effort and that was everything I had, then that will be success," Diggins said.

Here are photos of her historic win at the Winter Olympics:

Jessie Diggins (USA) competes in the Women’s Cross-Country Skiing Freestyle Sprint during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Zhangjiakou Cross-Country Centre, Feb. 8, 2022.
Jessie Diggins (USA) races against Emma Ribom (SWE) in the Women's Cross-Country Skiing Freestyle Sprint during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Zhangjiakou Cross-Country Centre.
Jessie Diggins (USA) celebrates winning the bronze medal in the Women’s Cross-Country Skiing Freestyle Sprint during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Zhangjiakou Cross-Country Centre, Feb 8, 2022.
Jessie Diggins (USA) celebrates winning the bronze medal in the Women’s Cross-Country Skiing Freestyle Sprint during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Zhangjiakou Cross-Country Centre, Feb. 8, 2022.
Jessie Diggins (USA) celebrates winning the bronze medal in the Women’s Cross-Country Skiing Freestyle Sprint during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Zhangjiakou Cross-Country Centre, Feb. 8, 2022.
Jessie Diggins of Team United States celebrates after winning the Bronze medal during the Women's Cross-Country Sprint Free Final on Day 4 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at The National Cross-Country Skiing Centre on Feb. 8, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.
Bronze medalist, Jessie Diggins of Team United States celebrates with Gold medalist, Jonna Sundling of Team Sweden following the Women's Cross-Country Sprint Free Final on Day 4 of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games at The National Cross-Country Skiing Centre on Feb. 08, 2022 in Zhangjiakou, China.

Contributing: Lori Nickel 

Follow reporter Asha Gilbert @Coastalasha. Email: [email protected].


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