Valerie Grenier of Ottawa, Ontario won a World Cup women’s downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy on Friday. For Grenier, it is her fourth World Cup alpine skiing medal.
Grenier posted a time of 1:33.77. Stephanie Venier of Austria won the gold medal with a time of 1:33.06. Lara Gut-Behrami of Switzerland won the silver medal with a time of 1:33.45. Grenier actually shared the bronze medal with two other skiers. In a crowded podium, Christina Ager of Austria and Sofia Goggia of Italy also had times of 1:33.77. Grenier reached the podium by two tenths of a second. Laura Pirovano of Italy was in sixth place with a time of 1:33.97.
In the Women’s Alpine Skiing World Cup Downhill standings, Grenier is in 23rd place as the top Canadian with 60 points. The World Cup leader is Goggia with 350 points.
This was Grenier’s first career World Cup alpine skiing downhill medal. The other three have been in giant slalom. Grenier won gold in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia on January 7, 2023, bronze in Grandvalira Soldeu-El Tarter, Andorra on March 19, 2023, and gold in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia on January 6, 2024. The bronze medal for Grenier in Cortina d’Ampezzo has added significance because it is the Olympic hill for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
