For the first time in Olympic history, women will compete in a 50km cross-country skiing race on Sunday at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games. The event marks the final appearance for American skier Jessie Diggins. Swedish and Norwegian athletes are favored to contend for the top spots.
The Milan Cortina 2026 Olympics introduce a historic milestone in cross-country skiing: a 50km race for women, up from the previous 30km distance, to achieve gender parity. Scheduled for Sunday, February 21, at the Tesero Cross-Country Stadium, this mass start classic event—often called the "ski marathon"—requires athletes to complete six laps on an 8.3km (5.15-mile) course, totaling 31.1 miles. The race begins with a mass start, positioning the highest-ranked skiers at the front, and the first to finish wins.
This event caps the women's cross-country program and serves as Jessie Diggins' last Olympic outing. The American, who earned silver in the 30km freestyle at the Beijing Games despite suffering from food poisoning the day before, has focused on improving her classic technique. She aims for a top-10 finish and shared her mindset on social media: "My goal for tomorrow’s 50km is to simply do the best that I can in each moment, to be smart, and to truly enjoy the experience of putting on an Olympic bib for the last time with my family here to cheer me on."
Other U.S. competitors include Rosie Brennan, Kendall Kramer, and Hailey Swirbul. Sweden's Frida Karlsson and Ebba Andersson lead the favorites; Karlsson secured two individual gold medals at these Games, while Andersson took two silvers. Together, they hold a 2025 World Championship title and multiple World Cup podiums. Norway's Astrid Oeyre Slind is also a strong contender. While men's events have seen dominance from Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Sweden has powered the women's side with its long-distance expertise.
