MINNEAPOLIS — The Winter Olympics in Beijing are under way and the Land of 10,000 Lakes has what feels like 10,000 Olympians representing the state in 2022.
One of Minnesota's finest athletes competing will be 30-year-old Jessie Diggins, who won a gold medal in team sprint free style in 2018's Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang.
The three-time Olympian and St. Paul native was one of the first Minnesotans to compete in this year's Winter Olympics in Beijing.
In her first event, Diggins finished sixth in the cross-country skiing, women’s skiathlon classical/freestyle on Feb. 5; but she went on to make history in her second event, winning bronze in the women's individual sprint. Diggins became the first American woman to win an individual medal in cross-country skiing.
Diggins is set to ski again early Wednesday morning (Minnesota time) as part of the Team Sprint Classical:
- Wednesday, Feb. 16 @ 1:15 a.m. CT: Team Sprint Classical
Diggins is set for one more race to conclude the games:
- Sunday, Feb. 20 @ 12:30 a.m. CT: Women's 30km Freestyle
Growing up in Afton, Diggins said her parents took her skiing every weekend.
"We joined the Minnesota Youth Ski League as a family and spent every Sunday afternoon all winter long playing games and learning how to ski. I especially enjoyed the hot chocolate and sledding afterwards!" she recalled on her own website.
“AFTON CHEERS FOR JESSIE DIGGINS” yard signs started popping up around her hometown ahead of the Olympics. They fit quite well next to the “GO JESSIE GO” banner hanging in the center of town, as well as the “Jessie Diggins Trail” named in her honor after the 2018 Olympics.
To see the full list of Minnesotans participating in the Winter Games in Beijing, click here.
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