The two-time cross-country World Cup champion is widely considered the best Nordic skier in US history. This year she has bigger goals

Every April, Jessie Diggins sits down with her longtime coach, Jason Cork, to discuss the upcoming year. After working together for the last 15 years, their trust allows for continual experimentation. “We normally don’t set outcome goals. It’s usually about the process, testing something new,” says Diggins, “but last year was different.”

Without the Olympics or world championships overlapping the World Cup season, the two decided to “call our shot”, and set the sole goal of regaining the Crystal Globe, cross country’s top annual honor. Soon after, Diggins relapsed with an eating disorder, nearly missing the start of the 2023-24 season. “I had to put all of my goals in a closet and just take it one week at a time,” she says.