Retired Olympic skier Jessie Diggins won the women’s division of the Superior Fall Trail Race on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. The 100-mile event took place on the Superior Hiking Trail along the shore of Lake Superior in northern Minnesota.
The race follows Diggins' retirement from professional cross-country skiing in March 2026. During her 15-year skiing career, Diggins won four Olympic medals and four overall World Cup titles. The Superior Fall Trail Race marked her first 100-mile trail running event and her third long trail race since retiring from competitive skiing.
Diggins completed the course in 25 hours, finishing at the Caribou Highlands Lodge in Lutsen, Minnesota. The route, which began at Gooseberry Falls State Park, required runners to navigate rocky terrain and rain during the night. Race director John Storkamp noted that the 100-mile distance is about grinding, a trait he said Diggins demonstrated.
Upon finishing, Diggins reported that she had exhausted her physical energy and was unable to stand. While she described the experience of pushing her physical limits as a way to build resilience, she stated she does not intend to pursue trail running as a professional career. She noted that participating in races for recreation carries less pressure than professional skiing, which she described as the way she previously paid her bills.
For Diggins, this shift involves a move into public speaking, where she addresses audiences on topics including mental health, grit, and teamwork. She described the transition as a new form of performance that carries similar levels of nervousness to the start of an athletic race. This career change represents a shift from physical competition to professional communication. While she continues to enter endurance races like the Superior 100, these events now serve as personal challenges rather than a primary source of income.
Diggins indicated that she intends to use her 45-minute presentations to share her story and motivate audiences. Her participation in the Superior Fall Trail Race serves as a bridge between her former life as a professional athlete and her new role. The race, while not a new professional pursuit, maintains her public profile as she navigates her post-Olympic career. No specific dates for her upcoming speaking engagements were reported.