Canadian Olympic gold medalist Marielle Thompson of North Vancouver, British Columbia was part of a massively successful weekend for Team Canada at four World Cup ski cross events over the weekend in Veysonnaz, Switzerland. In all, Canadians came away with five medals. Thompson won the gold medal in the two World Cup women’s ski cross events (one on Saturday and one on Sunday). Meanwhile, India Sherret of Cranbrook, British Columbia won bronze on Saturday in the women’s World Cup ski cross event. In men’s action, Reece Howden of Chilliwack, British Columbia won bronze on Saturday, and Jared Schmidt of Ottawa, Ontario won bronze on Sunday.
In the women’s World Cup ski cross event on Saturday, Thompson beat silver medalist Daniela Maier of Germany to the finish line. Thompson and Sherret won both of their quarterfinal and semifinal heats.
In the men’s World Cup ski cross event on Saturday, Simone Deromedis of Italy won the gold medal and Youri Duplessis Kergomard of France won silver. Howden, who finished third, won the second first round heat, finished second to Florian Wilmsmann of Germany in the first quarterfinal heat, and won the first semifinal heat.
In the women’s World Cup ski cross event on Sunday, Thompson beat silver medalist Maier and bronze medalist Fanny Smith of Switzerland. Thompson won the third quarterfinal heat, and finished second behind Maier in the second semifinal.
In the men’s World Cup ski cross event on Sunday, Schmidt placed behind gold medalist Duplessis Kergomard and silver medalist David Mobaerg of Sweden. Schmidt won the seventh first round heat, fourth quarterfinal heat and placed behind Mobaerg by finishing second in the second semifinal heat.
For Thompson, she has now won 72 World Cup medals (35 gold, 23 silver an 14 bronze). Sherret has won 10 World Cup medals (three gold, two silver and five bronze). Howden has now won 24 World Cup medals (13 gold medals, seven silver medals and four bronze medals). Schmidt has won six World Cup medals (three gold medals and three bronze medals).
In the World Cup women’s ski cross standings, Sherret leads with 595 points. Maier is second with 584 points. Thompson, who won the gold medal in women’s ski cross at the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, is third with 581 points. In the men’s ski cross standings, Howden is in fourth place with 406 points and Schmidt is in 13th place with 187 points. The leader is Deromedis with 530 points.
