Jessie Diggins, in final race weekend, wins fourth cross-country World Cup title
Diggins clinches fourth overall cross-country World Cup crown with victory in her final weekend race.
Image: GlobalBeat / 2026
Jessie Diggins wins World Cup: American clinches fourth cross-country title in final weekend
Jessie Diggins won her fourth overall cross-country World Cup title at the finals in Falun, Sweden on Sunday.
The 34-year-old American clinched the crystal globe with a second-place finish in the 10km pursuit, accumulating 4,030 points in the season standings.
Diggins became the first American woman to claim four World Cup overall championships. She previously won in 2021, 2023 and 2024. Only one American man, Bill Koch, has won the title in 1982.
Therese Johaug of Norway finished second overall with 3,857 points. Linn Svahn of Sweden placed third with 3,612 points.
Sweden coach Anders Bystrom praised Diggins’ consistency throughout the season. “She showed remarkable endurance across all disciplines,” Bystrom told reporters in Falun.
Diggins completed the 10km race in 28 minutes and 19.8 seconds. Svahn won the race in 28:17.4. Johaug finished fourth in 28:45.2.
The Vermont native secured the title with one race remaining in the season. She entered the finals with a 173-point lead over Johaug.
International Ski Federation president Johan Eliasch presented Diggins with the crystal globe after the race. “This represents years of dedication,” Eliasch said.
Diggins told Swedish television she felt emotional after the win. “This season tested everything I had,” she said.
The American won 8 individual races this season. She placed on the podium in 18 of 23 events.
Team USA coach Matt Whitcomb called Diggins’ performance historic. “She dominated from start to finish,” Whitcomb said.
Diggins previously won Olympic gold in the team sprint with Kikkan Randall in 2018. She claimed bronze in the individual sprint at Beijing 2022.
Background
The cross-country World Cup began in 1973. Diggins joined the circuit in 2012. She emerged as America’s top performer during the 2013-14 season with her first World Cup victory.
The World Cup champion receives the crystal globe trophy. Points accumulate through distance races, sprints and combined events across the season from November to March.
What’s Next
Diggins will compete in the final race of the season, a sprint event on Monday. She has not announced plans for retirement but called this weekend her “last races of this season.”
The American team will prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina. Diggins indicated she would evaluate her future after taking time off from competition.
META: Jessie Diggins wins fourth cross-country World Cup title in final weekend, becoming first American woman with four championships