olympic athlete jesse diggins She traveled to the Capitol on Wednesday with four medals in hand to advocate for clean air, clean water and a healthy planet.
America’s most decorated cross-country skier is part of Protect Our Winters, an athlete-led environmental group that sent a coalition to Washington to meet with lawmakers on Tuesday and Wednesday. The group’s biggest concern is how the Environmental Protection Agency is acting. Key climate, water and pollution regulations weakened Since President Donald Trump returned to power.
“I don’t want to stick my head in the sand and ignore the world burning,” Diggins said in an interview. “I feel like I have a responsibility to use my voice to advocate for change. That’s why it’s so important to me, because I want my great-grandchildren to one day be able to build snowmen, try cross-country skiing, go hiking, fishing, camping, and breathe clean air in the summer. I really want that for them.”
Jesse Diggins of the United States competes in the women’s cross-country skiing 50km Mass Start Classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tessero, Italy, on February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
Jesse Diggins of the United States competes in the women’s cross-country skiing 50km Mass Start Classic at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Tessero, Italy, on February 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)
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Diggins retired from professional ski racing this year. Women’s 10km interval start wins bronze medal in 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. Many skiers express concern During the Olympics, climate change and accelerated dissolution One of the world’s glaciers. a warming world jeopardize the future of their sport.
Diggins described bringing the medal to Washington as a “beautiful, full-circle moment.” He said he would consider it a success if he could have a productive dialogue that helps pave the way for bipartisan efforts to strengthen and strengthen the EPA in the future. Republicans, who currently control Congress, generally support Trump’s EPA actions.
“We’re trying to advocate for solutions that protect us in the long term, but training and racing through four Olympics was a very long-term thing. It’s not instant gratification. Work, work, work,” Diggins said. “I think this is a good reminder that it’s okay to look for solutions for the future.”
Democratic Congressman Paul Tonko of New York said he was honored to meet with this group of “athletes, advocates and champions.”
“These efforts are more important than ever as the government and EPA push environmental protections left and right,” he said in a statement. “I remain committed to stewarding the environment in a healthy manner and leaving a better planet for the next generation of torchbearers.”
Coalition includes athletes, scientists and storytellers
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) speaks with Olympian Julia Kahn, from left, Jesse Diggins, Bee Kim, and Olivia Giaccio during a conference advocating for clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet at the Capitol on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D.N.Y.) speaks with Olympian Julia Kahn, from left, Jesse Diggins, Bee Kim, and Olivia Giaccio during a conference advocating for clean air, clean water, and a healthy planet at the Capitol on Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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It’s not your typical lobbying group. Brody Leven, a professional ski mountaineer, only owns a suit to go to Washington with Protect Our Winters. But he said he hopes they are the ones who can rally people around policy solutions to climate change.
“We are good at facing adversity and moving forward,” he said. “And we’re good at knowing something is going to be difficult and trying to do it anyway.”
They met with Democratic and Republican lawmakers. olympic athlete Buy Jaelin, Gus Schumacher, Bee Kim, julia khan and Olivia Giaccio Protect Our Winters said they were involved.
Kauf, a three-time Olympic silver medalist, said he spoke with lawmakers Wednesday about seeing the effects of climate change firsthand during his travels and how the lack of snow is impacting major races. Protecting these lands and beautiful places “can bring many of us together,” she said.
During the Trump administration, the EPA canceled scientific discovery It supports the fight against climate change, Changed to rollback limit Announced regulations on toxic wastewater from coal-fired power plants and other cuts to federal regulations against air and water pollution caused by fossil fuels. These changes conflict with the agency’s historic mission To protect human health and the environment.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the agency is Sticking a dagger into the heart of climate change religion And it heralded the arrival of America’s Golden Age. “Doing so would save trillions of dollars in regulatory costs and hidden taxes, making the cost of living more affordable and reinvigorating domestic manufacturing, he said.
Environmentalists argue that the EPA under Zeldin has abdicated its duty to protect the public from dangerous greenhouse gas pollution at a time when climate change is increasing the risk of global warming. abnormal weather, This includes more powerful hurricanes, more dangerous flooding, more intense wildfires, and more. Legal challenges to various changes to EPA regulations have been filed. filed by the stateurban, public health and environmental organizations.
“Save Our Winter” Looks Beyond the Trump Era
Congressman Paul Tonko (D.Y.) speaks with Olympian Jesse Diggins, center left, Bee Kim and Julia Kahn during a rally for clean air, clean water and a healthy planet at the Capitol on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
Congressman Paul Tonko (D.Y.) speaks with Olympian Jesse Diggins, center left, Bee Kim and Julia Kahn during a rally for clean air, clean water and a healthy planet at the Capitol on Tuesday, June 23, 2026 in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
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Ben Gubitz, vice president of campaigns and advocacy for Protect Our Winters, said the group expects the federal government to protect the health of Americans and the planet. POW has been lobbying Congress for nearly a decade, including several visits in 2021 and 2022, advocating for passage of landmark climate legislation. Signed by President Joe Biden The so-called Inflation Control Act of 2022.
“We are thinking seriously about a long-term, forward-looking vision for the future and how we rebuild these important institutions beyond the Trump era,” Gubitz said.
Stuart Nissenbaum started working at the EPA early in Biden’s term and left a year ago. He is also part of the coalition. Nissenbaum said he thinks being in Washington with the Olympians will help draw attention to their message. They are masters of their craft and wear American flags while competing, which should resonate with members of Congress, he added.
Nissenbaum said he traveled to Washington to tell lawmakers that clean air and clean water are bipartisan and that they should adopt science-based policies to protect the environment.
“Clean air and clean water are not things we should take for granted,” he said. “It affects everyone.”
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