On July 11, Kikkan Randall shared her breast cancer diagnosis via Instagram. Best known for her five Olympic cross-country skiing appearances, this Alaska-native can easily be recognized by the pink streaks in her hair. Figuratively, the color pink takes on new meaning for her as it is now indicative of the battle she’s fighting with breast cancer. She begins her breast cancer announcement with, “The color pink has taken on a new chapter in my life as I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer.”

The color pink has taken on a new chapter in my life as I was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Although we caught it early and the prognosis is good, my life will change quite a bit in the coming months. I have returned to Anchorage for treatment at @providencealaska Cancer Center. It’s a scary thing to learn you have cancer and I have wondered every day since how this could have possibly happened to me. But I have promised myself that I will remain positive and active and determined throughout my treatment. I am going to bring as much tenacity, strength, and energy toward this challenge as I have throughout my entire career. I began my first round of chemo on Monday surrounded by great friends and family. I made to sure get a gym workout in beforehand, rode my bike to and from the hospital, and wore my happy shoes. I will be using my blog to keep everyone posted through my upcoming journey. #Kikkanimal @llbean @aktivmotkreft @aktiv_usa photos by @charlesrenfroski

A post shared by Kikkan Randall (@kikkanimal) on

While Kikkan just shared the news with her followers, she was diagnosed with the disease back in April of this year. Receiving the diagnosis was difficult and confusing for her as she found out shortly after winning gold at the PyeongChang Olympics, a very exciting moment for her.  She tells the Anchorage Daily News, “It’s tough for sure, especially coming off winning an Olympic gold medal. To go from that high, to barely two months into retirement, and then you find out about this, which just changes everything.”

Luckily, Kikkan received the diagnosis at an early enough stage to have a positive prognosis. While this news increases Kikkan’s chances of winning the battle, her breast cancer diagnosis will certainly shift her day-to-day life for the next few months. She is set to receive six rounds of chemotherapy, giving her three weeks in between each treatment, before undergoing surgery. She has already gone through her first round of chemo and is determined to stay active and positive throughout the whole process: “I am going to bring as much tenacity, strength, and energy toward this challenge as I have throughout my entire career.”

Kikkan Randall is fighting this battle in the healthiest way possible and we wish her all the best and hope to see her on the slopes again soon.