Every April, Jessie Diggins sits down with her longtime coach, Jason Cork, to plan for the upcoming year. Their collaboration, built over 15 years of trust, allows them to experiment with new approaches. “We don’t normally set outcome goals,” Diggins explains. “We focus on the process, trying new things.” But last year, with no major championships overlapping the World Cup season, they made an exception, deciding to aim for the Crystal Globe, cross-country skiing’s top annual honor.
However, just as the season was about to begin, Diggins faced a personal setback. She relapsed with an eating disorder, which nearly derailed her season. “I had to put all my goals aside and take it one week at a time,” she admits. Despite the internal struggles, Diggins remained open about her mental health in interviews, even though it sometimes brought additional scrutiny. “I will never stop talking about the important issues,” she says. “I know I’ll get more haters and trolls, but I will not shut up and ski.”
Now, as she prepares for the 2024-2025 season, Diggins has shifted her focus. Her goal this year is not just about improving her skiing technique, like refining her double poling, but also continuing her climate advocacy. She wants to be the role model she never had as a young woman, using her platform to tackle the issue of climate change. “If I don’t talk about a problem, I’m only perpetuating it,” she asserts.
Diggins, a board member of Protect Our Winters (POW), has become one of the leading voices in climate advocacy. She works with athletes from various sports, training them to use their personal stories to advocate for policy changes. “It gives me an outlet to do something instead of just dreading the changes to the planet,” she says. “I’ve seen winters change a lot in my 15 years as a pro.”
After making history by becoming the first American to win an Olympic gold in cross-country skiing in 2018, Diggins felt the weight of that achievement. She knew climate change was a significant issue, especially as races were canceled due to lack of snow, even in the Alps during mid-January. But at the time, she didn’t know how to address it. Later that year, she joined POW for her first lobbying trip to Washington, D.C., where she leveraged her Olympic medal to gain attention from lawmakers. Two years later, she joined the POW board of directors, a role she intends to keep after retiring from skiing. “Skiing will leave a huge vacuum, but advocacy work fits my strengths and gives me purpose,” she says. “It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
This long-term perspective is particularly important after the recent U.S. presidential election. “Climate change is something we’ll be working on our entire lives,” Diggins notes. “We were born into this problem, and we’ll likely pass it on to our kids and grandkids. So it’s important not to burn out.” She encourages people to take breaks, connect with nature, and return to the fight refreshed.
Diggins admits that getting started in climate advocacy can be intimidating. “A lot of people care about the climate but don’t have the time to stay up to date with every bill or new report,” she says. “Instead of letting fear stop you, take small actions. Don’t let apathy take over.”
Despite acknowledging her own carbon footprint, Diggins emphasizes that striving for perfection should not be a barrier to action. “I try to offset what I can, but I’m not perfect, and I own that,” she explains. “Being imperfect doesn’t mean you should stop talking.”
Most U.S. senators she’s spoken with acknowledge the reality of climate change and its human causes, though they often differ on the best solutions. “That gives me hope,” Diggins says. “Progress is slow, but it’s happening.”
Her goals this year, both in skiing and climate advocacy, focus on controlling her effort rather than the outcome. “It’s not about winning. You can’t control that,” she reflects. “But you can control your effort, your heart, and your dedication.” Whether in the race or in the fight for climate policy, she knows that it’s the effort that counts. And even though she cannot vote on climate laws, Diggins is determined to make her case and inspire others to do the same. “Just because you can’t control the outcome doesn’t mean it’s not worth your time and effort,” she says.
With the new administration’s focus shifting, Diggins and POW are recalibrating their approach. “We’re figuring out what policies are still tenable,” she says. “But climate change shouldn’t be political.” Through continued lobbying and grassroots activism, Diggins remains hopeful, always focused on taking the next right step.
