Canada's Marielle Thompson earns 4th Crystal Globe in women's ski cross
Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., has topped the women's ski cross Wor‐ ld Cup standings for a fourth season.
She posted her sixth vic‐ tory of the 2023-24 campaign on Saturday, defeating Marielle Berger of France in the big final in Idre Fjäll, Sweden. Thompson said she had clinched the Crystal Globe before reaching the start line.
Brittany Phelan of MontTremblant, Que. was third in Saturday's race, her fourth consecutive medal podium finish and 20th of her career. She was also third in the sea‐ son standings.
"This season hasn't been that easy," said Thompson, whose four titles are tied for most all-time. "To come away with my fourth Crystal Globe is cool and special.
"My crash in seeding on
Thursday was another strug‐ gle. We have a great team and they got me healthy enough to be able to race this weekend. I love Idre, this place is special and the peo‐ ple are special."
Thompson entered Satur‐ day with a 67-point edge over Berger. The Canadian added she was more relaxed in Sat‐ urday's small final after learning before the race she had clinched the overall sea‐ son title.
The two-time Olympic medallist won Friday's small final and placed fifth overall.
WATCH | Thompson wins final race of the sea‐ son, claims Crystal Globe:
Thompson, 31, led the way in Veysonnaz, Switzer‐ land a week ago with her fifth gold in a seven-race stretch. Teammates Brittany Phelan and India Sherret collected silver and bronze for the sec‐ ond Canadian sweep of the medal podium.
"Canada has been spec‐ tacular all season," Thomp‐ son said. "Some teammates
are at home injured [and] they were a big part of [our success]. We're thinking of them. Everyone rallies to‐ gether and you saw with the results today - four in the top eight - and that was special."
Thompson has 31 career victories and 67 podium fin‐ ishes in 136 World Cup starts. She was also an Olympic gold medal winner in 2014 and world champion in 2019.
WATCH | Thompson ex‐ plains what the overall title means to her:
Tiana Gairns of Prince George, B.C., took the small final at the last competition of the season on Saturday while Sherret, a native of
Cranbrook, B.C., was third and seventh overall.
Phelan and Sherret fin‐ ished 1-2 in Friday's big final.
On the men's side, Reece Howden, of Chilliwack, B.C., was second in the men's event and was also second in the overall standings in his quest for a third career title.
"Feel like I did all I could today and I'm happy with my skiing," said Howden. "David [Sweden's David Moabaerg, the overall champion] skied great today and earned the Globe.
"Overall I'm happy with my season. I feel like I missed a couple of opportunities to get some important points but I battled hard and I'll come back stronger next sea‐ son."
Also Saturday, Canada captured the Nations Cup, presented annually to the country that tops the FIS standings. This marks a third straight title for the Canadian team and its 11th in the 17 years the championship has been presented.
WATCH | Howden nar‐ rowly captures silver medal: