Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes repeats as champion of the grueling Iditarod sled dog race

Odenville man wins grueling Iditarod dog sled race for second straight year

Jessie Holmes guided his dog team across the finish line Tuesday night in the old Gold Rush town of Nome, a Bering Sea coastal community, after traveling for nine days, 7 hours and 32 minutes.

Former Reality TV Star Jessie Holmes Wins Back-to-Back Iditarod Sled Dog Races

Jessie Holmes, who rose to fame on the National Geographic reality show Life Below Zero, is now a two-time Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race winner, thanks to his performance at the 2026 race, which wrapped on Tuesday, March 17. Holmes, 43, also won the 2025 Iditarod, making him only the third competitor to ever repeat after winning it for the first time the previous year. “I’ve been chasing greatness ever since the last time I was here,” Holmes said…

Jessie Holmes repeats as Iditarod champion

Seward musher Travis Beals finished second early Wednesday, about four and a half hours behind Holmes. Fairbanks musher Jeff Deeter and Cantwell’s Paige Drobny followed in third and fourth places.

Iditarod dog sled race ends in repeat win for Jessie Holmes

The former reality TV star guided his dogs through a roughly 1,000-mile (1,609-kilometer) race, completing it in nine days, seven hours, and 32 minutes.

Glance: Holmes repeats as Iditarod champion

Former reality TV personality Jessie Holmes won his second consecutive Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, the nearly 1,000-mile competition in Alaska.

Iditarod's new champ, same as the old champ: Jessie Holmes notches rare repeat win

Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race champion Jessie Holmes signs in after finishing the 1,000-mile race in Nome the evening of Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Gabby Hiestand Selgado/KYUK) NOME – Defending Iditarod champion Jessie Holmes and his perky team of sled dogs made a brisk run down Front Street about 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to deliver the 44-year-old musher his second title in as many years. From Brushkana Creek off the Denali Highway, Holmes is the first …