American Jessie Diggins wins overall World Cup title

Jessie Diggins of the United States holds up the trophy as she celebrates with her team after winning the cross country ski, women's World Cup overall title, in Falun, Sweden Sunday March 17, 2024. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP)

American Jessie Diggins won the 20K freestyle mass start race in Falun, Sweden, on Sunday to secure the overall World Cup title for the second time in her career.

Not only did Diggins earn the overall Crystal Globe, she was also the distance Crystal Globe champion as well. Her historic World Cup season included six wins, 12 podiums, a team relay podium and a Tour de Ski overall victory.

Diggins, who also won the overall in 2021, became the first American to win two World Cup cross-country skiing overall crowns. Bill Koch, the only other American to the World Cup overall Crystal Globe, took the title in 1982.

“I just wanted to go ski a brave race and ski hard and put my whole heart out there,” Diggins said. “That’s what I did. I’m really proud of how the season ended but I’m more proud of my team for being there for me. It’s been a lot of ups and downs. It has not been easy. It’s been a hard year. And that’s I think why it’s so special that we got through it together.”

Jessie Diggins of the United States celebrates winning the cross country ski, women's World Cup 20 km Mass Start event, in Falun, Sweden Sunday March 17, 2024. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP)

From left, second placed Heidi Weng of Norway, winner Jessie Diggins of the United States holds the women's cross country ski World Cup overall trophy, flanked by second placed Linn Svahn of Sweden, and third placed Frida Karlsson of Sweden in Falun, Sweden Sunday March 17, 2024. (Anders Wiklund/TT News Agency via AP)

The World Cup season for the Americans was undeniably the best in their history. A number of Alaskans contributed to the success.

Anchorage’s Rosie Brennan, who finished 10th on Sunday, had five individual podiums herself and Sophia Laukli also had a win for Team USA.

The men’s team also saw unprecedented success. For the first time in history, three American men took podiums as Alaskans JC Schoonmaker and Gus Schumacher joined Ben Ogden with podium appearances this season. A month ago, Schumacher won the first World Cup distance race by a U.S. man in 43 years.

[Alaskan Gus Schumacher claims historic win in World Cup cross-country race in Minneapolis]

On Sunday, Diggins won in a time of 51 minutes, 53 seconds. She also became just the second American woman to win an individual distance globe. Anchorage’s Kikkan Randall won three sprint Crystal Globes.