Taking Back Control: Skier Jessie Diggins On Pushing Through The Pain Cave, Navigating Recovery & Her Final Olympic Run
Hurdle with Emily Abbate
iHeartPodcasts
4.9 • 1.4K Ratings
🗓️ 17 February 2026
⏱️ 62 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
This week, we're sharing an episode from Olympic medalist and cross-country skiing legend Jessie Diggins, which originally aired in 2025. Jessie opens up about her journey to the top of her sport, what it’s like to embrace the intense pressure of elite competition, and how she pushes herself to her physical breaking point — sharing vivid details of the "blurry vision" and sheer grit required to win.
She also gets candid about her mental health journey, specifically her experience with an eating disorder and a relapse in 2024, discussing what support looks like in her daily life today. When we had this conversation — there was just under a year left until the Winter Olympics, and Jessie reflected on training in Italy, her recent World Cup wins, and her decision to retire at the end of 2026.
IN THIS EPISODE
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The Physical Breaking Point: Jessie describes the sensation of pushing her body to its absolute limits during a race, including the "blurry vision" that often accompanies her hardest efforts.
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Mental Health & Recovery: A vulnerable discussion on her history with an eating disorder, navigating a relapse in 2024, and the importance of a strong support system.
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The Final Stretch: Jessie shares her mindset heading into her final Olympic run in Milan-Cortina and why she has decided to retire after the 2026 season.
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Legacy & Integrity: Reflecting on being awarded the Holmenkollen Medal, Jessie explains why racing with integrity and being a role model outside of the sport is as important to her as her results on the snow.
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Training Philosophy: How she and her team plan "super peaks" every four years for the Olympics and the unexpected benefits of "toe yoga."
QUOTABLE MOMENTS
"I’ve realized that I don’t have to be a perfect person to be a good role model. I just have to be an honest one."
"The 'pain cave' is a place I know well, but I’ve learned that you can’t live there. You have to have a home to come back to that is full of joy and balance."
"Winning is amazing, but it’s the feeling of crossing the line knowing you gave every single thing you had—that’s the part that stays with you."
"I want the next generation of skiers to see that you can be the best in the world and still be a human being who struggles and asks for help."
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:02.5 | Guaranteed Human. |
| 0:04.1 | When I reached that point in a race where everything feels like it's on fire and legs are stiff and are going numb, I just kind of tell myself, like, I've arrived. |
| 0:14.6 | Like, I've gotten to that point where I am pushing my absolute limits. |
| 0:20.1 | I'm pushing the boundaries and I get to use this as a chance to see what I'm really made of. |
| 0:40.6 | Hey, everyone. Emily Abadi here. |
| 0:44.9 | You are listening to another episode of Hurtle, a podcast featuring the mindset, |
| 0:49.2 | secrets and true stories of the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, |
| 0:55.4 | empowering you to live a healthier, happier, more motivated life, and of course, conquer your own hurdles. |
| 1:01.6 | Today's guest is someone who understands what it really means to push the absolute limit of human potential. Jesse Diggins is a world champion and four-time Olympic medalist in |
| 1:08.7 | cross-country skiing, including her most recent bronze at this year's |
| 1:13.4 | winter games in the 10-kilometer freestyle. At the time, I recorded this intro, Jesse has three |
| 1:20.2 | more events during this winter games, which will be her final Olympics before she retires from |
| 1:26.5 | competitive skiing this spring. |
| 1:29.0 | In this conversation, which we originally had before the 2025 season, Jesse gets incredibly |
| 1:34.9 | candid about the pain cave, why she views the physical agony of a race as a gift and an opportunity |
| 1:41.1 | to see what she's truly made of, mental health and resilience, her |
| 1:44.7 | experience with an eating disorder relapse, the danger of being too good at pushing through pain, |
| 1:50.4 | and why asking for help is the biggest hurdle of all. Plus, process versus outcome, why |
| 1:56.9 | Jesse's goals are centered on daily care and effort rather than just the number on a result |
| 2:03.1 | sheet. Whether you're an endurance athlete or just someone navigating the everyday hurdles of life, |
| 2:09.4 | Jesse's insight on vulnerability and self-compassion is a masterclass in mindset. |
... |
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