Gnarly day on course for US cross country team skier Jesse Diggins who battled through adversity to finish second at the 20km freestyle race in Ruka, Finland over the weekend.
Diggins lost her right ski pole and glove with about one mile left to go in the race and she got hit in the face with her replacement pole causing her to bleed. For the final 3 minutes of the race she endured temps just around zero degrees with no glove (the course is just outside the Arctic Circle) and a bloody face:
“Finished the race with a bloody face, spare pole, no glove and no feeling in my hand or legs! That was one I had to get gritty as all hell for, and I can’t say thank you enough to my team and the FIS team for taking such good care of me after!”
Gritty indeed Jesse (100% badass I would say). Incredible finish, if this was the Olympics the whole world would be buzzing about this performance. Cheers to Jesse!