U.S. cross-country skier Jessie Diggins is set for her fourth and final Olympics in Milano Cortina, where she plans to honor her career with a sparkly throwback. The most decorated American in the sport will wear tinsel from her 2018 gold medal win during the women's skiathlon. Her glitter tradition has inspired young skiers across the U.S.
TESERO, Italy – As Jessie Diggins prepares for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics, the American cross-country skier is embracing her signature sparkle one last time. This marks her fourth and final Games, where she has become the most decorated U.S. athlete in the discipline and helped raise the profile of the sport against dominant Nordic nations.
Diggins, known for her gritty performances, will line up for the women's skiathlon on Saturday adorned with red, white, and blue hair tinsel saved from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. That event saw her clinch the first-ever U.S. gold in cross-country skiing. In an Instagram video, she explained: "I saved the original pack of hair tinsel from 2018 and I'm going to put some in my hair now and race these games with it because I think it's a fun nod to all of the amazing teammates I have had and all of the people who have been a part of my career and helped pave the path for this generation."
The 33-year-old has made glitter a hallmark of her approach, rubbing it on her cheeks before races to remind herself to enjoy the sport. This habit has caught on, with young American skiers now sporting glitter at competitions. Looking back, Diggins recalled dyeing her hair red, white, and blue for the 2014 Sochi Olympics, calling it "very fun but very permanent." She adopted hair glitter for the subsequent Games, including Pyeongchang and Beijing 2022.
Training in Tesero ahead of the events, Diggins shook her freshly tinseled hair in the video, declaring: "Let's glitter up."
Her career highlights include elevating U.S. cross-country skiing, long overshadowed by countries like Norway. As she bids farewell to the Olympics, Diggins' blend of determination and fun leaves a glittering legacy.
