Jessie Diggins has once again etched her name into the history books, claiming her third FIS Cross Country World Cup overall title and her second consecutive sweep of both the overall and distance Crystal Globes. The 32-year-old American skier capped off a dominant 2024-25 season, reinforcing her status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. Meanwhile the men’s overall title went to Johan Klaebo, who has won a total of 13 World Cup events this season and 98 in his World Cup career, making him poised to break the 100-marker next season.
Diggins’ journey to the top was marked by consistency, resilience, and historic milestones. Over the course of the season, she stood on the podium seven times—six of them victories, including her first-ever classic race win in the 15-kilometer (9-mile) at the Tour de Ski. She led the World Cup standings from the very first race weekend, wearing the prestigious yellow leader’s bib from start to finish, despite battling a foot injury in the latter half of the season.
Her latest achievement adds to a career already brimming with historic firsts. Diggins remains the only non-European athlete to have won the overall Crystal Globe, a feat she first accomplished in 2021. Reflecting on her latest triumph, she emphasized the joy and personal growth that defined her season. “I think that this year, it was so joyful to be able to prove to myself that I could win the overall Crystal Globe in a place of being really happy and mentally healthy and in a strong and resilient body that could stay healthy all season,” Diggins said. “There was more joy in the process, and there was less stress overall!”
Diggins’ dominance this season was all the more impressive given the adversity she faced. After the Tour de Ski, she battled plantar fasciitis and a partially torn ligament in her foot but continued to race, missing only a couple of events. Her perseverance was rewarded not only with the overall title but also with a razor-thin victory in the distance standings—winning the title by just two points.
Her season also included success at the 2025 FIS Nordic Ski World Championships, where she earned a silver medal in the team sprint alongside Julia Kern. It marked the second consecutive World Championships where the duo reached the podium together, bringing Diggins’ career tally to seven World Championship medals.
As the World Cup season drew to a close, Diggins remained at the forefront, finishing ninth in the final 50 kilometer (31 miles) classic race. In the men’s event, fellow American Gus Schumacher secured a strong seventh-place finish.
With three Crystal Globes, three Olympic medals, and a total of 29 career World Cup victories, Diggins’ impact on cross-country skiing is undeniable. Yet, for her, success is measured by more than just numbers. “When I was younger, it was hard to separate succeeding from succeeding on the results sheet. My self-worth was based on what number was next to my name,” she reflected. “Succeeding at something, to me, is going after it with your whole heart, doing it in a way that lifts up other people and means that you cross the finish line with nothing left.”
Diggins has long been an advocate for inspiring the next generation of American skiers, emphasizing the importance of representation and visibility in a sport traditionally dominated by Europeans. “You can’t be what you can’t see,” Diggins said. “Sometimes you need to see someone do it to believe that it’s possible. Hopefully, this creates more opportunity for those coming after me.” The athlete was also instrumental in bringing the FIS Cross-Country World Cup to Minneapolis last season.
