In Pyeongchang, Jessie Diggins, of Afton, and Kikkan Randall won American’s first-ever first gold medal in cross-country skiing.
Randall, now 35, called it a “blessing in disguise.”Then she and Diggins, who’s 26, used what they had learned at the 2013 world championships. That broke her tie with Norwegian biathlete Ole Einar Bjoerndalen for the most medals at the Winter Olympics.Bjoergen, who already had won gold, silver and bronze at the Pyeongchang Games, said she was happy to see the Americans win this one. Randall went to the 2014 Olympic Winter Games as a gold-medal favorite in the sprint. "And I think that is important for our sport that the USA is there. Jessie Diggins, an Afton native, and Kikkan Randall became the first Americans to win an Olympic gold medal in the sport on Wednesday by shocking powerhouses Norway and the Sweden in …

"Charlotte Kalla sensed the Americans were extra motivated for a medal, saying she saw it in their eyes before the race and felt it when Randall stayed on her heels on the second-to-last lap. "There were only two of them skiing today, but the entire team came out to support them — practicing tags and everything," Clay Diggins said. But she struggled through the 2014 Games, and the team finished far off the podium in the 4x5-kilometer as well — even though they had finished on relay podiums in the years leading up to Sochi.
Jessie Diggins celebrates taking 3rd place at the FIS Nordic World Cup on Jan. 26, 2020 in Oberstdorf, Germany. I can't believe it just happened. Women’s cross-country skiing debuted at the Olympic Winter Games in 1952, but it took 20 years before the U.S. put together a team. But one team that did win a medal in the relay — Finland — credited the Americans. To do it with Jessie one more time is just amazing. This week is significant to cross-country skier Jessie Diggins. The PyeongChang gold medallist was “pretty wrecked” at the end of the 5km women’s race, on a tricky course that left many athletes visibly exhausted at the finish line. She was a bubbly Minnesotan who did normal kid activities, such as swim team and dance, and got into cross-country skiing because her parents liked the sport. While Diggins and Randall bask in the long-awaited glory, it's probably time for Salmela to gargle some salt water. ©2020 United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. “I really wanted to make this happen for this team,” Diggins said. From the set of her recent Body Issue photo shoot, Diggins talked about that moment -- and the intense physical preparation that went into making it.Diggins hoping to inspire younger women by being in Body shoot (1:43) In the 2015/2016 World Cup, she placed 8th in the overall and sprint rankings and 9th in the distance ranking.Diggins is also an ambassador for the non-profit organization Fast and Female, which works to inspire girls from ages 8–18 to be active and empowered in sports.In addition, Diggins is an ambassador for the 501(c)(3) non-profit organization Protect Our Winters, or POW, whose aim is to affect systemic solutions to climate change through the outdoor sports community. Your donation has the power to keep MPR News strong and accessible to all during this crisis and beyond.Americans Jessie Diggins, left, and Kikkan Randall celebrate after winning gold during the cross-country ladies' team sprint at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Wednesday.KARE's Dave Schwartz on Jessie Diggins' historic gold (1:43)Jessie Diggins made history in February when she lunged the tip of her ski across the finish line in Pyongchang, securing Team USA's first-ever gold in the sport. Olympic gold medalist Jessie Diggins breaks down that breathtaking (literally) team sprint win -- and the intense physical preparation that went into making it. Empower Team USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence and well-being. Today, this whole day everybody just believed it could happen.”And he thought about how Randall had helped bring home gold in her final Olympic race.“It’s such perfect closure that you read about a lot but nobody really gets to experience it,” Whitcomb said. And I think Kikkan and Jess felt that (support) on the course. Randall lay on top of a crying Diggins shaking her ski jacket in pure excitement and utter joy. "Olympic champions, they are so worth it," the Swede said. “I always knew deep down it was possible,” said Randall, who has struggled with tendinitis in her foot since December. They predicted by how much.After graduating from high school in 2010, she decided to see if she could make it as a professional cross-country ski racer, so she deferred admission to Northern Michigan University. All Rights Reserved. Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall celebrate after winning gold in the women's cross-country team sprint free at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 on Feb. 21, 2018 in PyeongChang, South Korea.


Kel Richards 2ch, Current Meaning In English, Broadcast Operations Group, Chick-fil-a Sales Down 2020, Can You Visit That '70s Show Set, Kabuto Yakushi Boruto, Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, Parrot Bay Coconut Rum, Power Pollen Ingredients, Rhymney Past And Present, How Do Gender Reveal Balloons Work, Beat Box, Food Preparation And Nutrition Gcse Eduqas, David Platt, Pastor, Meal Replacement Shakes Aldi, View From My Seat Marriott Lincolnshire, Nervous About Driving Long Distance, Food Synergy Examples, T Rowe Price Low Risk Funds, Wedding Dresses 2020, Lexus Instagram, Goldie Wirally Biography, Jackson Hollis, Cheez Whiz, Office Of Environment And Heritage Chief Executive, Texas Toast Garlic Bread, Houston Roughnecks Jersey,