Watch: Afton’s Jessie Diggins Gold Medal Cross Country Skiing Comeback

Jessica Diggins, left, of the United States, celebrates after winning the gold medal past Stina Nilsson, of Sweden, in the during women's team sprint freestyle cross-country skiing final at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)


Preface: 

  • Jessie Diggins begins the below video in second place.
  • The announcer is electric. I recommend playing the clip with the audio on.

Gold! Game, set, and match. Sorry, Sweden.

What the Minneapolis Miracle was to Paul Allen, Jessie Diggins’ comeback victory was to that NBC affiliated announcer. I don’t want to take attention away from what the Afton, MN native, and Stillwater High School alum accomplished, but kudos to that guy.

Naturally, WAY more kudos to Diggins. The 26 year-old’s amazing come from behind victory in the women’s team sprint freestyle secured the first ever gold medal for U.S. cross-country skiing. On top of that, she and her teammate Kikkan Randall, are the first American cross-country skiers to reach the podium since 1976.

If you liked the first video, try this one on for size:

Stand up, Afton! Let’s go. Congrats to you and your hometown champion. According to the Pioneer Press, you aren’t wasting anytime preparing the celebrate:

To double down on positive Olympic news on this Thursday morning, the U.S. Mens Curling team beat the three-time reigning gold medal winners, Canada, early Thursday morning.

Like Diggins, that squad has Minnesota ties. Unlike Diggins, they have top-tier facial hair. #TeamShuster will now compete in the title match, and leave Pyeongchang with no worse than silver.

Let’s hope the fan-favorites can bring it home. Getting second place in these Olympics is a victory in itself, but there is just something extra special about getting first.

 

Johnny Minnesota @TheJohnnyMN
Minnesota Sports Fan MinnesotaSportsFan.com

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