Musher Jessie Holmes won Alaska’s Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, crossing the finish line in Nome after 10 days and 14 hours of racing. Holmes gave credit to his 10-dog team, whom he described as family, for his victory.
Holmes, a carpenter from Nenana, Alaska, has been preparing for this moment for years. He found reality TV fame on the National Geographic program “Life Below Zero” and has competed in the Iditarod six times, including third place last year. This year’s win marks Holmes’ first time taking home the top prize.
Holmes said he bred his own dogs and had a special bond with each of them, even holding them in his hands as puppies. He praised his lead dogs, Hercules and Polar, for their exceptional performance.
The Iditarod is typically a 1,000-mile race, but this year’s distance was the longest due to a lack of snow forcing changes to the route and starting point. Holmes faced adversity last winter when part of a house fell on him, leaving him with broken ribs and a wrist.
Despite the challenges, Holmes said his dogs did “magical” things, and he credits them for his win. He also expressed his gratitude to his mentors who have passed away, saying they inspired him to reach this goal.
Holmes took home $57,200 in prize money, as well as gold nuggets worth $4,500 and fresh salmon worth 25 pounds. When asked if he was tired, Holmes replied that it wasn’t about the moment now, but about all the moments along the trail. He described the experience as “magical” and said his dogs deserved all the credit for his win.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/alaska-iditarod-winner-jessie-holmes-5b23bfc7a2e77290a4b15ceca4f21462