U.S. cross-country ski star Jessie Diggins battled through injury and collapsed at the finish line as she claimed bronze Thursday, marking the latest medal in what is believed to be her final racing season.
Diggins, of Minnesota, collapsed to the ground, shouting out in pain after finishing the freestyle women’s 10‑kilometer interval start at the Milan Cortina Games.
The 34-year-old American finished 49.7 seconds behind a Swedish one-two, with Karlsson clocking 22 minutes, 49.2 seconds. Ebba Andersson was second, 46.6 seconds behind the leader.
Diggins was hurt in a fall in her opening race — the 20-kilometer skiathlon — on Sunday and the toll also limited her ability to put in a strong finish in the sprint classic on Tuesday in Tesero.
One of the most decorated U.S. cross-country skiers, Diggins was visibly uncomfortable late in the sprint after a fast start.
“When I crashed in the skiathlon I bruised my ribs and it is really painful,” Diggins said. “Double poling is pretty tough right now so I’m doing the best I can. But it’s not my finest finishing stretch of my life.”
Breathing deeply remained difficult though she was relieved the ribs were not worse.
“There’s just really not much you can do,” said the Minnesota native, who won gold in the women’s team sprint at the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang. “I’m happy that they’re not sprained or broken because I’ve been there with sprained ribs. I know I can do it. It’s just a bummer.”
She was determined to push on after a frustrating start in her final Olympics.
“I’m just going to keep showing up and doing the best I can,” she said, “and just putting everything I have out there.”
