Jessie Holmeswho became famous on the National Geographic reality show Life Below Zeronow a two-time winner of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, thanks to his performance in the 2026 race, which wrapped up on Tuesday, March 17.
Holmes, 43, won the 2025 Iditarod again, making him only the third competitor to repeat after winning it for the first time last year.
“I’ve been chasing greatness since the last time I was here,” Holmes said, according to the report The Associated Press. “So we’re going to continue to chase those steps, we’re trying to push ourselves every day to get better.”
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race runs 938 miles from Anchorage to Nome, Alaska, and is run by mushers and up to 16 of their dogs. People and animals alike must battle the elements – with wind chills that drop to 100 degrees below zero – for more than a week to cross the finish line. The course passes through two mountains, over the frozen Yukon River and across the frozen Bering Sea.
Holmes finished his 2026 race in 9 days, 7 hours and 32 minutes, beating his time from 2025 by more than a day. He and his 12 dogs crossed the finish line with Zeus, one of his lead dogs, leading the way. Zeus was only 2 years old last year, but served Holmes well in his 2026 promotion.
Polar, who was leading in 2025, has aged and spent most of the race at the back, before Holmes brought him to the front at the final checkpoint.
“Man, when I put Polar up, he pulled out his chest, and then he said, ‘Let’s go!’ It was amazing,” he said.
Holmes already has his eyes on a 3-peat in 2027, he said AP he hopes he and his dogs can break the all-time record for the course’s southern route.
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But for now, Holmes and his canine companions are basking in their victory. When they finished the race, Holmes rewarded his best friends with ribeye steaks, according to the report Anchorage Daily News.
“It’s a blessing to be out here, I was full of gratitude and acceptance from all these communities,” he said, according to the source. “And being out in all this beautiful country with the most amazing group of dogs I’ve ever seen.”
For the win, Holmes earned $80,000 in prize money, up from $57,000 last year, thanks to an event sponsored by a Norwegian billionaire. Kjell Rokke. Rokkee also participated in the non-competitive novice category.
