Jessie Gala Speech

Jessie Diggins is the most decorated American cross-country skier of all time—an athlete celebrated for relentless grit, infectious optimism, and the ability to “go deep into the pain cave” with a smile (and, often, a little race-day sparkle). On February 21, 2018, in PyeongChang, South Korea, she stunned the world with a dramatic, come-from-behind finish to win Team USA’s first-ever Olympic gold in cross-country skiing in the women’s team sprint, a defining moment of the Games. Since then, Diggins has continued to set the standard: a multiple-time World Cup Overall champion, Tour de Ski champion, and a trailblazer who became the first American to win an individual World Championship gold. Her excellence and leadership also earned her the honor of serving as Team USA’s closing ceremony flag bearer in 2018. To book Jessie Diggins, contact the Midwest Speakers Bureau.