– I couldn’t stop crying after the race. I couldn’t enjoy it because I couldn’t see since I was crying. It was so special, says a touched Jessie Diggins to news after becoming world champion in the 10 km freestyle in Planica on Tuesday. There were many reasons why the tears flowed. The first ever individual championship gold in cross-country skiing did not come cheap. The 31-year-old from Minnesota has fought many battles. ALL FOR GOLD: Jessie Diggins cashed out and got paid in gold. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB To take the last one first: Giving everything you have for a mile, in a fight against the world’s best, is an extreme physical strain. – It was difficult to feel my legs, so I was a bit nervous. But for me it is also a good sign. Then I know that I am really wearing a rubber band. It was difficult to catch my breath, she says. Missing In addition, it has been a difficult winter for Diggins. – The last year has had many ups and downs. That makes this even more special, because this has not been easy. I wish my husband could be here because I haven’t been home in months. It’s hard. It has not been an easy year, says an emotional world champion. She continues: – I just miss my family and my husband. That makes it so special, because they really support me. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t love doing what I do, because it’s not easy. The very toughest match, however, has been about something completely different. – The achievement I am most proud of is that I sought treatment for the eating disorder. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. Definitely. Cross-country skiing is not tough in comparison, Diggins said when news met her in Toblach before the WC. Was terminally mentally ill Before Tuesday’s race, she turned her focus back to that fight. In connection with the fact that in the USA it is the annual week for the fight against eating disorders, she posted this message on Instagram the evening before the feat. – The only reason I’m here competing is because “The Emily Program” saved my life, she wrote, sharing a video. “The Emily Program” is the organization that made her address a problem she refused to admit she had for many years. In an interview with news two years ago, she spoke in detail about how she developed bulimia – and the long and difficult struggle to overcome it. Among other things, she described the first time she forced herself to throw up at a gas station, on her way to work. Compares to drugs – It was really scary and I remember looking up in the mirror, tears streaming down my face – and I looked scary. I didn’t feel stressed, the anxiety disappeared and the voice in my head stopped yelling at me that I was a failure, she said, and continued. – As soon as I threw up, I understood why people are addicted to drugs, because it makes you completely numb. I no longer needed to feel anything. I knew it was stupid and thought “shit, this is an eating disorder”. I couldn’t deny what I had done, but it was really scary because I was in denial about how bad it was. KTE LOVE: Grandpa Bill was an important person in Jessica Diggins. His death was the wake-up call she needed to save her own life. Photo: Privat The turning point only came when the grandfather was dying of lung cancer. He had only weeks to live when his family gathered around him at the hospital in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. “In the end, it was my grandfather’s death that saved my life,” he writes in his biography, “Brave Enough”. She had then received treatment through “The Emily Program” for several years. – I understood that there are situations where you cannot avoid dying. Cancer happens, car accidents happen, things happen. But seeing what it did to my family made me realize that I’m going to die. It’s not if, it’s when, if I continue down this path. And I understood that I had a chance to save myself, she says, Diggins said as tears rolled down her face. – Rehabilitation for ten years Even after the WC gold, Diggins likes to talk about the difficult topic for many. – It is important for me to talk about this, she says. – Hopefully it helps people understand. No two eating disorders are the same, but it is a very dangerous, life-threatening mental illness. I hope that those who see the video can gain some empathy and understanding, and decide to do some research to learn about the danger signs, so if they know someone who has problems, they can encourage them to seek help, says Diggins to news . In the big interview in 2020, she revealed that the disease was still bothering her after the Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018. – I have been in rehabilitation for ten years now. It’s something I always want to be careful about. Especially in periods of stress, such as the WC. Then I proactively work with my sports psychologist on what things might be stressful for me, and how we can make sure that I follow the plan and take care of myself, says Diggins, who believes she has now become good at asking for help. JUMPING HAPPY: Jessie Diggins referred Fride Karlsson to silver. Photo: Matthias Schrader / AP – Very lucky – I have been in a good place for a long time, but I am aware that I am very lucky because I have a lot of support and good people around me, she says. She is clear that the WC gold would have been impossible without support in many areas. – I got fantastic skis, and everyone in the support apparatus ran around the track and cheered. Sometimes I didn’t even know who it was. It was such a good feeling. When you’re in really good shape it hurts, but you feel like you can just push on. It was a fantastic feeling, she says. The race developed into a real thriller, with a battle for second between several of the biggest favourites. Jessie Diggins, Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson followed each other almost like shadows, and were actively seconded to each other. But towards the end, no one had a chance to follow the American, who beat Frida Karlsson by 14 seconds. Ebba Andersson was relegated to bronze. – I think I have good speed at the end too, but then someone comes along and does something “overwhelming”. Then you can’t be disappointed either, says Karlsson about the top woman from the USA. Resilient – She is one of the hardest working and most resilient athletes I know. The gold is an incredible inspiration. I think the whole team feels it’s a win, says Diggins’ teammate, Julia Kern. Anne Kjersti Kalvå and Ingvild Flugstad Østberg looked to be able to interfere in the medal fight, but were relegated to fourth and fifth place. – It’s not a nice position, but I’m not one or two seconds away from the podium, so it’s not bad either. I dreamed of fighting for the podium today. I do everything I can today and then it gets too tough halfway there. I’m simply not good enough today, says Østberg to news. Here you can see the entire interview with Jessie Diggins about the bulimia she believes could have cost her her life:
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Diggins against historic World Cup gold – crushed Swedish stars – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
