Canadian Olympic gold medallist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia won two gold medals this past weekend in World Cup women’s ski cross events in Bakuriani, Georgia. The first World Cup took place on Saturday and the second World Cup took place on Sunday.
In Saturday’s World Cup, there was a 1-2 Canadian finish as Canadian Olympic silver medalist Brittany Phelan of Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec finished in second place. Marielle Berger Sabbatel of France won the bronze medal. Thompson and Phelan each won their quarterfinal heat. Thompson won her second semifinal and Phelan finished second behind Berger in the first semifinal heat.
In Sunday’s World Cup, Thompson won the gold medal, Berger Sabbatel won the silver medal, and Talina Gantenbein of Switzerland won the bronze medal. Thompson won the fourth quarterfinal heat and the second semifinal heat. Thompson has now won 65 World Cup medals (29 gold medals, 23 silver medals, and 13 bronze medals). Phelan has won 16 World Cup medals (eight silver medals and eight bronze medals).
Thompson won the gold medal at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, and Phelan won the silver medal at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang. In the World Cup women’s ski cross standings, Thompson leads with 812 points. Phelan is in fourth with 594 points. The gold medals for Thompson and the silver medal for Phelan will give them confidence as they prepare for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.
