Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia and Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario each won World Cup women’s ski cross medals in St. Moritz, Switzerland on Sunday. Thompson won the gold medal and Schmidt won the bronze medal.
Schmidt and Thompson both won the eight finals heats and quarterfinal heats. In the semifinals, Schmidt and Thompson were in the same heat, with Thompson being victorious. Then in the big final, Thompson finished first, and Schmidt finished third, with Fanny Smith of Switzerland finishing in between with the silver medal.
In the Women’s World Cup ski cross standings, Schmidt is now the World Cup leader with 529 points. Thompson is in third place with 467 points. Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France is in second place with 480 points.
This was the eighth World Cup women’s ski cross race this season. In all, there are 19 races. Events are still to come in Alleghe, Italy; Bakuriani, Georgia; Reiteralm, Austria; Oberwiesenthal, Germany; Veysonnaz, Switzerland; and Idre Fjall, Sweden. In the aforementioned World Cup destinations, there are two World Cup events in all locations except for Veysonnaz where there is only one.
Thompson won gold in women’s ski cross at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. At the World Cup level, Thompson now has 62 World Cup medals (26 gold medals, 23 silver medals and 13 bronze medals). Schmidt has won six World Cup medals (three gold medals, one silver medal. and two bronze medals). The medals for Schmidt and Thompson in St. Moritz will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/St. Moritz.
