ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Jessie Diggins didn't expect to win a medal Thursday. By her own admission, the 10-kilometer classic is her weakest event.
That was perfectly OK with the Afton, Minn., native, who actually found it liberating. During her momentary break from the immense pressure of the Beijing Olympics, Diggins dabbed glitter on her teammates' cheeks. She had an emotional rite-of-passage moment with young Novie McCabe, racing for the first time at an Olympic Games.
Though she wasn't among the favorites, Diggins still finished eighth, proving she is in razor-sharp form at the halfway point of her Beijing Games schedule. Norway's Therese Johaug got the victory, winning her second gold of the Games. Finland's Kerttu Niskanen and Krista Parmakoski took silver and bronze, respectively.
