TESERO, Italy — Sweden’s Frida Karlsson sailed to gold in the women’s skiathlon on Saturday at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in a race that saw American star Jessie Diggins get caught up in a rare first-lap crash.
Diggins, the most decorated cross-country skier in U.S. history and winner of three Olympic medals, crashed skiing downhill into a turn on the first of six laps, and finished eighth as the Olympic cross-country skiing program kicked off. Several skiers fell or were slowed down.
“My tip just disappeared in the slush,” Diggins said of the crash, “and unfortunately it was a tough spot where you lose all your momentum.”
Karlsson took the lead in the first lap and rarely let it go, as the front pack dwindled from four, then to three, then to two, then to one. She crossed the finish alone, wrapped in a Swedish flag, in 53 minutes, 45.2 seconds. That was 51 seconds ahead of teammate Ebba Andersson in second. Norway’s Heidi Weng secured bronze, 1:26.7 back.
“The skis were super, and the body felt amazing. It was so fun out there,” Karlsson said. “I have never been as in love with skiing as now.”
The 26-year-old Karlsson is a three-time world champion and was a bronze medalist at the 2022 Beijing Olympics in the 4×5 km relay. Watching her, it looked easy.
Read more about Karlsson’s incredible day in tough conditions below.