
For the third time ever, Team Canada has swept the podium in a World Cup women’s ski cross event in Switzerland. On Tuesday in Arosa, Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia won gold, India Sherret of Cranbrook, British Columbia won silver, and Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario won bronze. Meanwhile on the men’s side, Reece Howden of Chilliwack, British Columbia won gold.
For Thompson, it was her 70th World Cup medal. She has now won 33 gold medals, 23 silver medals, and 14 bronze medals. Sherret has now won seven World Cup medals (two gold medals, two silver medals and three bronze medals). Schmidt has now won seven World Cup medals too (three gold medals, one silver medal and three bronze medals). Howden, meanwhile, has won 22 World Cup medals (12 gold medals, seven silver medals and three bronze medals).
In the Women’s World Cup ski cross, Schmidt, Thompson and Sherret all won their first round heat. In the quarterfinals, Sherret and Thompson both won their heat, while Schmidt finished second to Fanny Smith of Switzerland. Then in the semifinals, Schmidt and Sherret were victorious, with Thompson being only behind Sherret.
In the Men’s World Cup ski cross, Howden won the first qualification heat, first quarterfinal heat, and first semifinal heat. Simone Deromedis of Italy won silver and David Mobaerg of Sweden won bronze.
In the World Cup women’s ski cross standings, Thompson leads with 260 points, Sherret is in second with 225 points and Schmidt is in fifth place with 137 points. In the World Cup men’s ski cross standings, Howden is in second place with 179 points. Deromedis leads with 196 points.
The first time Canadian women swept the podium in women’s ski cross was in Grindelwald, Switzerland on March 12, 2010. Canadian Olympic gold medalists Kelsey Serwa of Kelowna, British Columbia and Ashleigh McIvor of Vancouver, British Columbia won gold and silver respectively, while Danielle Poleschuk of Winnipeg, Manitoba won bronze. The second time Canadian women swept the podium in women’s ski cross was in Veysonnaz, Switzerland on March 16, 2024. Thompson won gold, Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brittany Phelan of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec won the silver medal, and Sherret won bronze.
Thompson won the Olympic gold medal in women’s ski cross at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. McIvor won the gold medal for Canada in women’s ski cross at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver. Serwa and Phelan won gold and silver respectively at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. The medals for Thompson, Howden, Schmidt and Sherret will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.