ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Jessie Diggins didn't win a medal Saturday in her first race of the Beijing Olympics. That was hard to tell from her upbeat mood after a sixth-place finish in the women's 15-kilometer skiathlon.
Diggins raved about the course at Zhangjiakou National Cross-Country Skiing Centre. She talked about how excited she was to get started on her third Olympic Games. Her skis, her pacing and her conditioning were right where she wanted them, helping her record the day's fastest time in the freestyle portion of the race.
Even the frigid temperatures — 16 degrees with a wind chill of minus-2 at the start — didn't bother Diggins. The conditions certainly didn't slow down Therese Johaug of Norway, who dusted the field by more than 30 seconds to win the first gold medal awarded at the Beijing Olympics.
