Stay Curious. Stay Connected.
MailNewsletters♡Donate Now
Sign up
*Password must be at least 8 characters and contain one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one number and one symbol.
Already have an account?
By submitting, you consent that you are at least 18 years of age and to receive information about MPR's or APMG entities' programs and offerings. The personally identifying information you provide will not be sold, shared, or used for purposes other than to communicate with you about MPR, APMG entities, and its sponsors. You may opt-out at any time clicking the unsubscribe link at the bottom of any email communication. View our Privacy Policy.
Sign in to your profile
Forgot Password?
New to MPR News?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Reset Password

Enter the username on file and we'll send you a code to reset your password.

Still require assistance or not sure what your User Name is?
Welcome back
to news
for you
Email Verification

A verification code has been emailed to

Still awaiting the code?
MPR News Staff

Afton skier places fifth in skiathlon, highest Olympic finish ever

Jessie Diggins competes in 15km skiathlon
Jessie Diggins competes during the Ladies Cross Country Skiing 15km Skiathlon on day one of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games.
Clive Mason | Getty

Go Deeper.

Create an account or log in to save stories.

Like this?

Thanks for liking this story! We have added it to a list of your favorite stories.

Jessie Diggins placed fifth in the 15-kilometer skiathlon, the highest Olympic finish ever for a U.S. women's cross-country skier. Diggins narrowly missed a chance to become the first American woman to earn a medal in cross-country skiing, she was third in the World Cup standings coming into the race.

In the first medal event of the Winter Olympics on Saturday, Sweden's Charlotte Kalla won the women's 15-kilometer skiathlon by more than seven seconds.

This is the second Olympics for Diggins, 26, and in the four years since Sochi, she's climbed higher in World Cup rankings. In early January, she became the first American skier to medal at Europe's punishing Tour de Ski.

Diggins grew up in Afton, and says that as a child, her parents would take her along in a backpack when they went out skiing. She caught the racing bug later on, when she joined the ski team at Stillwater High School.