After The Medals: Video Interviews with Silver and Bronze Medalists Diggins & Randall

Gabby Naranja · February 24, 2017

Two American woman and one Norwegian reached the podium in the first medals race of 2017 Nordic World Championships, with Maiken Caspersen Falla of Norway (c) taking gold, and for the U.S., Jessie Diggins (l) and Kikkan Randall (r) taking silver and bronze, respectively, in the women’s freestyle sprint on Thursday, Feb. 24 in Lahti, Finland. (Photo: John Lazenby/Lazenbyphoto.com)

LAHTI, Finland — FasterSkier had an opportunity to interview Thursday’s 2017 Nordic World Ski Championships medalists Jessie Diggins and Kikkan Randall at the athletes’ village outside Lahti.

(Note: the interviews were conducted in a non-studio environment and are best listened to without headphones.)

For both U.S. Ski team members, it was their second-career individual World Championship medal and third overall — Diggins and Randall won team-sprint gold at the 2013 Val di Fiemme, Italy World Championships.

In Randall’s interview, she explains how she progressed through the heats and positioned herself to make the best of any opportunity.

Diggins discussed how she thrives on pressure and has built the self confidence to be a regular contender for the World Cup podium.

Both women are entered in Saturday’s 15-kilometer skiathlon. A 30 k event will be held for the men.

U.S. Skiathlon Entries:

Women

Jessie Diggins
Liz Stephen
Rosie Brennan
Kikkan Randall

Men

Noah Hoffman
Tad Elliott
Kyle Bratrud
Ben Lustegarten

Canada Skiathlon Entries:

Women

Emily Nishikawa
Cendrine Browne
Katherine Stewart-Jones

Men

Alex Harvey
Devon Kershaw
Graeme Killick
Knute Johnsgaard

Skiathlon start lists: Women | Men