Olympian Jesse Diggins could be clearly heard Saturday whenever he competed in the COOP FIS Cross Country World Cup at Theodore Wirth Park in Minneapolis.
Despite an unseasonably mild winter, approximately 20,000 people gathered at the venue, ringing cowbells, waving American flags, cheering, and enthusiastically playing outdoor winter sports on freshly snowed courses.
“I was overwhelmed, but in the best sense of the word,” Diggins said. “It felt like there were a million people there.”
Diggins, an Afton native and 2018 Olympic gold medalist, skated well through the first sprint, quarterfinals and semifinals. However, he ultimately finished fourth in the freestyle sprint. Still, as her crowd cheered, she took a victory lap, pumping her fist in the air and taking it all in.
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“People just kept coming,” Diggins said. “It was overwhelming because people came out for this. You know, we were like, 'This is his one chance.' I hope there are more things we don't know. ” And people were like, “Okay, here we go.” We are showing up. It was really great to feel the ski community coming together. ”
Among the fans was Stillwater's Brian Niderson. He showed up early to find a spot along one of the course's climbs.
“I love Nordic skiing,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity to have the World Cup here and a great sport that gets people outside and enjoying the winter.”
He was wearing a Stillwater Regional High School Nordic Ski Team jacket. His daughter has been skiing on the team for the past few years. It's the same team Diggins raced for more than a decade ago.
“She's definitely had a huge impact on the team and is such a positive role model and inspiration to all the kids, especially the girls on the team,” Niderson said.
Linda Evert and her husband came to watch from Circle Pines. Both are avid cross-country skiers and were disappointed when the event was canceled four years ago.
On Saturday, they arrived at the course early and were excited to enjoy it all.
“I got to see the event, the excitement of the crowd, the racing that I was watching on TV firsthand,” she said. “Just seeing the course set up and the players warming up makes it feel more real.”
Evert, the Minnesota Youth Ski League coach, also said this is the day all young skiers can finally see the world's best skiers up close.
