More Than Medals: Legacy, Leadership, and the Future of Women in Sport
All on Full Display by Jessie Diggins at the Stifel Cross-Country World Cup Finals at Mt Van Hoevenberg
One unforgettable moment in Lake Placid precisely captured the essence of why Jessie Diggins is so beloved – not just for her race results, but for who she is as a person.
Winning the FIS Cross-Country World Cup Crystal Globe represents the pinnacle of consistency and excellence across an entire season. Receiving it at her final World Cup race, in front of a home crowd at Mt Van Hoevenberg, made it even more meaningful.
But the defining moment wasn’t the trophy. It was her final lap.
By inviting hundreds of young skiers to join her, Jessie transformed a personal achievement into something shared and lasting. It was a gesture that reflected not just a champion, but an ambassador for joy, inclusion, and the future of her sport.
“I’m really proud of the things that I’ve done in a race bib and with skis on my feet,” says Jessie. “But I am even prouder of the things I have done off the course.”
A Legacy Beyond Race Results
Jessie’s impact extends far beyond the podium.
She’s a passionate advocate for the environment through Protect Our Winters, and a powerful voice for mental health and the Emily Program. By openly sharing her experience with bulimia and her path to recovery, she is helping break stigma, empower women and girls, and create space for more honest conversations.
“My legacy is going to be in my advocacy, in the way that I have spoken about mental health and eating disorders specifically, and the way I’ve tried to make really hard conversations less hard for people to have and make it possible for people to talk about things that are often stigmatized. It can be really hard to ask for help when you need it. And so I feel like my purpose in life is to make those conversations more accessible for people.”
Her story reflects a broader truth – the impact of women’s sports is not confined to performance. It shapes culture, redefines strength, and expands what leadership looks like on and off the course.
More Than Medals
Medals are powerful symbols of achievement, but the influence of women in sports reaches far beyond the podium. It shapes identity, builds confidence, and drives cultural progress.
Jessie helped elevate the global profile of cross-country skiing, yet her impact also reflects something larger. Her journey highlights how sport develops not just athletes but people.
Her journey is one of joy, perseverance, and resilience. Even more importantly, it emphasizes progress over perfection. A steady commitment to growth and the determination to overcome obstacles.
At a recent IBU Cup biathlon competition in Lake Placid, spectator and aspiring athlete Amalie Pratt of Wolcott, Vermont, spoke to the importance of sport in her life:
“As I go through high school and train for Nordic and biathlon, I’m learning there are a lot of physical and mental challenges that come along with maturing and doing a lot of things at once, like learning how to deal with stress and anxiety. I’ve spoken with professional athletes that say it’s something that all women go through and it definitely gets tricky. Being an athlete and a serious academic student offers those challenges, but our sport also leads to a lot of resilience and strength.”
The climb toward equality is ongoing. Despite decades of improvements, there’s still a long way to go. In a recent article on International Women’s Day, the Olympic Authority recognized both the advancements and the persistent challenges. While meaningful progress has been made, challenges remain – and the work continues.
The Power of Community
With so much potential for sport to shape lives, the path forward is becoming clearer. Progress depends on collective effort – schools, teams, organizations, and communities all working together to create opportunities and support one another.
If there were a single theme that defined women’s sports, it is connection.
At the 2025 FIL World Cup Luge event at Mt Van Hoevenberg, former 1980s luge athlete, current Olympic level coach, and CEO of her own business Cynthea Rose Hatfield emphasized the importance of collective support.
“Most athletes in most sports are not getting rich. They’re here working so hard because they love what they do. Beyond funding, women need to support other women. Women’s sport has a culture of connection – we gather, we support, we celebrate each other. You see it right here in the hugs, congratulations, respect, camaraderie. I’m here to help the next generation, and I challenge all former athletes to do the same.”
Jessie shares that same belief.
“You build your team, and that might include your family, your close friends, your teammates, and your coaches. You have your team of people you know and you trust. They’re people who will have your back no matter what, so you can open up and be your full, authentic self with them. And so when you’re struggling with something, when you need advice, when you need to bounce ideas, you have your people you can go to. People you trust, who you know have your best interests at heart. That’s how you grow. You give your best to those people, and they return the favor. That way all ships rise. Everyone’s lifting each other up.”
Behind every great athlete is a network of support. And in women’s sports, that network is not just important. It is foundational.
Choosing Positivity
For Jessie, success is also shaped by mindset.
While Team USA played a critical role in her development, Jessie’s unwavering positivity has been just as important. Her power of perspective is a vital and underrated character strength and one that must come from within.
“I’ve always been a pretty positive person, but being an optimist at baseline takes a real commitment to believing things are going to work out, especially when it gets hard. Like when I was struggling with my eating disorder, a part of me had to believe I can get better. I can do this. Things are going to work out. Or when you’re injured, you have to believe you can get through it. It’s like a commitment to looking for the good in people, in places, and in situations. Something I try to do a lot of is look around and ask what are the best things happening out there? I intentionally place my focus on the good things happening around me and dwell on the good. Of course, there are always things that are tough every day for every person, right? But we can choose where we focus our attention.”
It’s a mindset that carries her through both triumph and adversity – and one she hopes to pass on.
“I would tell all the kids, look for the fun. Getting to ski with my parents and the way they made it fun, it was never about results. It was just always super fun. Look at the way we all formed friendships internationally and the way the athletes treat each other, especially after a hard race. It’s easy to be happy when you win, but I would tell the kids to look around at the people who didn’t win. They’re still proud of themselves for leaving it all out there.”
That perspective was on full display in her final race. After a grueling 20k race, she fell on the final lap and finished 12th. But the result was secondary. Still catching her breath, she embraced her teammates and competitors from around the world.
Through tears of joy, she smiled as a crowd of more than 11,000 fans cheered her on. It was a moment of pure humanity – raw, real, and deeply inspiring.
The Path Forward
And what comes next for this person who has redefined her sport?
“I’m excited to be a fan on the other side of the fence,” she says, “And get to cheer for them.”
It is a fitting next chapter for an athlete who always measured success not just by achievement, but by the way she lifts others along the way.
As women’s sports continue to grow in visibility, participation, and support, their impact is reshaping culture at every level. From local communities to the global stage, Jessie Diggins and other athletes are creating space for new voices, new stories, and new opportunities.
And just as she did on that final lap in Lake Placid, inviting all the youth skiers to join her, Jessie leaves behind much more than a record of achievement.
She leaves a path forward. One defined not just by winning but of empathy, courage, resilience, and the belief that sport is at its best when it brings people together.