
Jared Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario and Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brittany Phelan of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec both won medals on Friday in a World Cup ski cross event in Val Thorens, France. Schmidt won gold in the men’s event, and Phelan won silver in the women’s event. For Schmidt it was his first gold medal on the World Cup circuit and third medal overall. For Phelan, who won the silver medal in women’s ski cross at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, she has now won 13 medals (six silver medals and seven bronze medals).
In the men’s World Cup ski cross race, Schmidt placed second behind Sweden’s Erik Mobaerg in the first round and second behind Canadian Reece Howden of Chilliwack, British Columbia in the quarterfinals. Schmidt then won his semifinal and final heat. Mobaerg won the silver medal, and Johannes Rohrweck of Austria won bronze despite not finishing the big final.
In the women’s World Cup ski cross race, Phelan placed only behind Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia in the quarterfinals. Thompson won the gold medal in women’s ski cross at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. Phelan then won her semifinal heat. Daniela Maier of Austria won gold and Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France won bronze.
Schmidt’s prior World Cup medals were bronze medals. They came in Bakuriani, Georgia on February 27, 2021, and Arosa, Switzerland on December 14, 2021.
In the World Cup men’s standings, Schmidt leads with 112 points after two races. Tristan Takats of Austria is in second with 109 points. In the World Cup women’s standings, Phelan is in third place with 130 points. She is behind Sandra Naeslund of Sweden with 150 points and Berger Sabbatel with 140 points. The Friday World Cup medals for Schmidt and Phelan will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.