Diggins and Kern Claim Silver in Team Sprint at World Championships

Jessie Diggins and Julia Kern made history once again, securing a silver medal in the classic team sprint at the 2025 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships in Trondheim, Norway. This marks their second consecutive World Championships medal as a duo, following their bronze in the skate team sprint two years ago in Planica, Slovenia. 

The American pair finished just 2.90 seconds behind Sweden, led by Maja Dahlqvist and Jonna Sundling, with Switzerland rounding out the podium in third. With this performance, Diggins and Kern delivered only the second-ever World Championships medal for the U.S. in a classic event. The first came in 2017 when Diggins and Sadie Bjornsen took bronze in the same discipline in Lahti, Finland. This is the American's fourth team sprint World Championships podium, with the pairing of Diggins and Kern holding 50% of those medals. 

"We both love team events because you’re not just fighting for yourself, but for each other and for our whole team," Kern said after the race. "Today, everything came together, and we’re so proud to bring this medal home."

The team sprint consists of each skier alternating laps, completing three each for a total of six. Diggins led off for the U.S., with Kern anchoring the final push to the finish. Kern knew she had more in the tank on her third lap and strategically saved herself to go all out—an effort that helped secure the U.S. silver medal. 

"Our strategy as a team was to go quite hard from the start and make it hard and string it out. My job was to go and Julia had to be the smart one," said Diggins, in a post-race press conference. "I knew to stay behind Jonna (Sundling), for as long as I could, and it really was a challenge! But I am so insanely grateful for our tech team for their work. It takes a whole team and today they really nailed it. This World Championship medal belongs to the entire team."

This medal holds special meaning for both Diggins and Kern, who have battled through individual injuries and illnesses over the past year. Overcoming those challenges to stand together on the podium made this accomplishment even sweeter. "Winning a medal is always special, but winning it with Julia after everything we’ve been through makes it even better," Diggins said.

The two have been training partners for the last decade at the Stratton Mountain School (SMST2) in Vermont, where they’ve developed a close friendship and a deep competitive bond. 

"I also have to say I am so proud of Julia," said Diggins through tears. "I have been training with her for ten years and seeing her skiing like a boss out there was so cool. It's so cool to see how much work she has put in and overcoming all of these challenges - it's not easy, but she makes it look easy." 

This result further cements Diggins’ status as one of the most decorated American cross-country skiers of all time, bringing her career total to seven World Championship medals. For Kern, it marks her second podium finish at the World Championships. 

With the team sprint now behind them, Diggins and Kern will shift their focus to the remaining events at the World Championships, looking to carry this momentum forward.

"When I crossed the finish line today, I told Jessie happy ten year anniversary," said Julia. "We've been on the same club team for a decade at SMST2. I was really inspired and wanted to train with the best and little did I know my role model was going to become my teammate and my close friend."

The men raced as well today, with JC Schoonmaker and Gus Schumacher teaming up. It was a tight race from the go and Schoonmaker and Schumacher held tight in the front pack, in strong contention of the podium in the majority of the race. The day was ultimately won by the Norwegians, with Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo taking home his fourth straight World Championships gold, alongside teammate Erik Valnes. Silver went to Finland and third to Sweden. The American men were sixth overall, only 12 seconds out from gold. 

Now, the team makes a quick turnaround for the men's team relay tomorrow, March 5. Watch LIVE on skiandsnowboard.live. 

Results
Women

World Championships Schedule (all times EST)

• Thursday, March 6
  • 6:30 a.m. - men’s 4x7.5k relay - skiandsnowboard.live
• Friday, March 7
  • 8:00 a.m. women’s 4x7.5k relay - skiandsnowboard.live
• Saturday, March 8
  • 5:30 a.m. men’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live
• Sunday, March 9
  • 5:30 a.m. - women’s 50k - skiandsnowboard.live