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Olympics: American Jessie Diggins picks up bronze medal

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American Olympian Jessie Diggins powered across the finish line in the women’s cross-country skiing 10-kilometer freestyle to win a bronze medal at the Winter Olympics on Thursday.

Diggins, struggling with bruises on his ribs, was trying to get on the podium among Swedish and Norwegian skiers. He endured the pain and fell to the ground.

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Jessie Diggins of the United States falls to the ground after crossing the finish line in the women’s 10 km interval free start cross-country skiing race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tesero, Italy, on Thursday, February 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

He was writhing in pain right after he crossed the line. The NBC broadcast heard Diggins screaming as his teammate tried to help him as he struggled to breathe. Diggins did it for the love of the sport and can now call herself an Olympic medalist. He crossed the line at 23.38.90.

Swedish Frida Karlsson won the race with a time of 22:49.20, completing the race 46.6 seconds ahead of Swedish Ebba Andersson. Norway’s Astria Oeyre Slind was just over 3 seconds behind Diggins.

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Jessie Diggins of the USA and Hailey Swirbul of the USA react after the race on February 12, 2026. (REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach)

This was Team USA’s first medal on the day, which saw the United States join Italy and Norway in the overall medal standings.

Read More About the 2026 Winter Olympics

Diggins won a silver medal in the event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. He also achieved a bronze medal in the individual sprint at these Games. Diggins was part of the gold medal-winning team sprint at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

He can collect more medals with the 50 meter classic race and the 4×7.5 kilometer relay race.