Jessie Diggins has made history by securing her fourth overall title in the cross-country skiing World Cup, clinching the season crown with a fifth-place finish in the 10km classic at the World Cup finals held in Lake Placid, New York. This remarkable achievement comes as she approaches retirement, marking her legacy in the sport.

Diggins entered the finals with a significant 342-point lead over Sweden’s Moa Ilar. With only 345 points available across the remaining races, Ilar needed a perfect performance to have any chance of dethroning Diggins. However, her fifth-place finish solidified her title, eliminating any lingering doubts.

• Final Results:
  • Linn Svahn (Sweden) - 29min 4.4sec
  • Frida Karlsson (Sweden)
  • Heidi Weng (Norway) - Third

With this victory, Diggins becomes the first woman to win three consecutive overall titles since Justyna Kowalczyk from 2009 to 2011. She is now one of only two North Americans to have won the overall title, alongside Bill Koch in 1982.

At 34 years old, the Afton native announced her retirement earlier this season, planning to conclude her career with two final events over the weekend. Throughout her 15 seasons on the World Cup circuit, she achieved 33 individual victories and 90 podium finishes, making her the most decorated American cross-country skier.

Diggins' legacy extends beyond her racing accomplishments; she has also advocated for athlete mental health, sharing her journey of recovery from an eating disorder. As she prepares to retire, she expressed her desire to embrace a more balanced life, stating, "It’s time to open the next chapter of my life."

She is set to race her final events this weekend, concluding her illustrious career on home snow.