Jessie Holmes trying to win back-to-back Iditarod titles, join rare company in race history

NOME, Alaska (KTUU) - Jessie Holmes, defending champion of the Iditarod Sled Dog Race, is competing in the 2026 race with a chance to become only the third musher in history to go back-to-back for their first two race titles — a feat last accomplished 18 years ago.

The Brushkana musher could join rare air: only Susan Butcher and Lance Mackey have repeated as champion one year after winning their first.

Holmes is attempting to join them.

‘I gotta feel that again’

Holmes won the 2025 race on the longest route in Iditarod history — a Fairbanks-to-Nome course spanning 1,128 miles.

At the finish, he said the reaction from the crowd stayed with him.

“The feeling that I felt when I was there and those dogs were celebrated with me and the people were so happy for me and I dove into the crowd and ran through the crowd,” Holmes said. “When I thought about that, I was like, I gotta feel that again.”

At the finish line celebration, Holmes also spoke about his personal journey.

“My life hasn’t been a dream run,” he said. “I can think of times whenever I was a young man and I contemplated suicide even, and I was a lost individual ... and through great mentors in my life, and my love for animals, like I’ve been able to build a life and I just want to be able to share that with people.”

Holmes said he never fully allowed himself to celebrate the 2025 win, keeping his focus on the defense.

“I think it’s even harder than winning the race was, is to go and defend this title consecutively,” he said.

Strong start in 2026

Holmes — wearing bib #7 — left the 2026 starting chute in Willow and quickly moved to the front of the pack.

He received a warm welcome at the remote checkpoint of Rohn after battling fierce winds at 30 below zero through the Alaska Range.

“It was just nuking like the snow and blowing, and I just was running the whole thing,” Holmes said. “That was the most awesome dog run of my life. I mean, those dogs were just incredible.”

Despite an unexpected swim in the Kuskokwim River, Holmes maintained his position at the front of the race.

“I had no vision of, like, luxury coming here,” he said. “Plus, this is fun you know. I’m challenging myself, and when you challenge yourself, you tend to bring the best out in yourself.”

Checkpoint to checkpoint

Holmes was the first musher into McGrath, where he received the Spirit of Alaska Award.

He held the lead through checkpoint after checkpoint, arriving first at the Yukon River, where he earned a five-course meal.

“Some incredible salmon dip on a nice toasted baguette,” Holmes said. “What a treat.”

Eight hours later, Holmes pulled the snow hook and continued down the trail.

“I’m kind of being a wild card, and it’s fun,” he said. “It’s working out.”

Eyes on the finish

Holmes said he is trying not to think about the finish line as he pushes toward Nome.

“The finish line means it’s over,” he said. “So I’m trying to like, keep that finish line out of my mind, and that end goal of winning, that’s just like a product of trying to chase greatness.”

He said perspective gained through personal adversity shapes how he approaches the race.

“I wanted to feel every single day to the maximum,” Holmes said. “Whether it’s the pain, the joy, the misery, all of it, I want to feel it all — 110%.”

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