Marielle Thompson and India Sherret win World Cup women’s ski cross gold in France

Marielle Thompson (Robert Thivierge, Wikimedia Commons)

The World Cup ski cross season began on Thursday this week in Val Thorens, France with World Cup events on Thursday and Friday. It was successful for Team Canada as they came away with five medals in four events. On Thursday, Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia won gold in the women’s event, and Kevin Drury of Toronto, Ontario won bronze in the men’s event. Then on Friday, India Sherret of Cranbrook, British Columbia won gold in the women’s event and Thompson won bronze. Then Drury struck bronze for the second straight day.

On Thursday, Thompson won the second quarterfinal, first semifinal and big final. Fanny Smith of Switzerland won silver and Daniela Maier of Germany won bronze. In Thursday’s men’s ski cross event, Drury finished second to Cornell Renn of Germany in the first round, Melvin Techiknavorian of France in the third quarterfinal, and Florian Wilmsmann of Germany in the second semifinal, before finishing behind gold medalist Simone Deromedis of Italy and silver medalist Wilmsmann in the big final.

On Friday, Sherret won the fourth quarterfinal heat, the second semifinal and big final. Thompson was second to Canadian Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario in the third quarterfinal, second to Sherret in the second semifinal, before placing third in the big final. Maier won silver. On Friday, Drury was second behind Alexis Jay of France in the first round, won the fourth quarterfinal, was second to Alex Fiva of Switzerland in the second semifinal, and third behind Adam Kappacher of Austria and Fiva in the big final.

In the World Cup standings, Thompson leads with 160 points and Sherret is second with 145 points. On the men’s side, Drury is tied with Wilmsmann for first place with 120 points.

Thompson now has won 69 World Cup medals (32 gold medals, 23 silver medals, and 14 bronze medals). Sherret has won six World Cup medals (two gold medals, one silver medal, and three bronze medals). Sherret’s other gold medal was in Alleghe, Italy on February 2, 2024. Drury has won 15 World Cup medals (five gold medals, six silver medals and six bronze medals).

Thompson’s Olympic gold medal came at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. The medals for Thompson, Sherret and Drury will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.

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