ZHANGJIAKOU, China — Jessie Diggins has been making the case that the U.S. really isn't defending the Olympic gold medal in cross-country skiing she won four years ago. The team sprint at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games was a freestyle, while Wednesday's team sprint at the Beijing Games is in the classic technique.
"Our sport is so crazy, because you only do that same Olympic race every eight years," she said. "In many ways, I've used that to take a lot of pressure off myself."
Still, expectations will be high for Diggins, who teamed with Kikkan Randall in the Pyeongchang team sprint to win the first-ever U.S. gold in cross-country skiing. Her partner for Wednesday's race, which starts with a semifinal round at 1:15 a.m. Central time, will be Rosie Brennan, the most accomplished member of the team after Diggins.
