Jessie Holmes (born 1981 or 1982) is an American sled dog musher and reality television actor.[1] Holmes won the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race twice, in 2025 and 2026.[2][3][4] He also appeared on the reality television show Life Below Zero.
Dogsled racing career
Holmes competed in his first competitive dogsled race in 2006 in Fairbanks, Alaska, finishing last.[5] He first competed in the Iditarod in 2018, finishing in seventh place, and winning the Rookie of the Year award. He participated in the race every year from 2018 to 2026.[1] He won the race in 2025, completing the record-long 1,128 mile course in 10 days, 14 hours, 55 minutes and 41 seconds.[2] He won $57,200 for winning the race.[3] He won the race again in 2026, becoming the third racer to win the year after their first win.[4]
Television career
Holmes was approached to appear on the National Geographic reality show Life Below Zero in 2015.[1] He appeared on 132 episodes over 8 seasons, before the show was canceled in 2025.[5] He used his earnings from the show to purchase equipment for his dogsled team.
Personal life
Holmes was born in 1981 or 1982 in Sylacauga, Alabama. He grew up in Columbus, Georgia, Phenix City, Alabama, and Odenville, Alabama.[5] After dropping out of high school, he moved to Montana, before arriving in Alaska in 2004.[1] In addition to mushing, he also participates in ultramarathons.[1] He currently resides in Brushkana, Alaska.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 4 5 Taylor, Drew (2024-03-01). ""Jessie Holmes left Alabama to search for his purpose. Over 4,000 miles away, he found it in the Iditarod"". WIAT. Retrieved 2026-03-10.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - 1 2 Press, MARK THIESSEN and BECKY BOHRER, The Associated (2025-03-18). "Alabama native, former reality star Jessie Holmes wins record-long Iditarod". WBMA. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - 1 2 White, Ava (2025-03-14). "'It's unreal': Jessie Holmes wins his first Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race". Alaska Public Media. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- 1 2 "Former reality TV star Jessie Holmes wins Iditarod sled dog race again, rewards canine team with large steaks - CBS News". www.cbsnews.com. 2026-03-18. Retrieved 2026-03-18.
- 1 2 3 "After training in deep snow and bitter cold, ex-reality show star seeks to win the Iditarod again". NBC News. 2026-03-10. Retrieved 2026-03-11.
- ↑ "Jessie Holmes wins 2025 Iditarod". The Nome Nugget. 2025-03-14. Retrieved 2026-03-11.