It's hard to believe that Marielle Thompson began the 2023-24 season slowly (by her standards anyway), but she's returned to the promised land with her fourth Crystal Globe.
The Whistlerite prevailed in the campaign's last race on Saturday under an overcast sky in Idre Fjäll, Sweden, besting French athlete Marielle Berger Sabbatel who settled for second. Brittany Phelan also joined the party in third: her eighth medal of the season and 20th overall.
Thompson's first three Crystal Globes were earned in 2012, 2014 (the same year she won the Sochi Olympics) and 2017. Now, she is tied for first all-time in FIS season titles to go along with 31 World Cup victories, 67 podiums, the 2019 World Championship and Olympic silver from 2022.
“It’s really special to win a fourth Globe,” said Thompson in a press release. “It’s a real privilege to race against these women and it means a lot to finish on top. This season has been a struggle, and my crash in seeding on Thursday was another struggle. 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 people are special, to win here and to get the Globe here is amazing!”
Canada on top
With silver around his neck, Chilliwack's Reece Howden stood on the men's podium between Swedish brothers David and Erik Mobaerg who were first and third, respectively. Howden also found himself second in men's overall rankings, narrowly missing out on his third Crystal Globe to David Mobaerg.
"Feel like I did all I could today and I’m happy with my skiing,” said Howden in a release. “David 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 season.”
Tiana Gairns (Whistler) and India Sherret (Cranbrook, B.C.) wound up fifth and seventh among women, while Jared Schmidt (Ottawa, Ont.) and Carson Cook (Edmonton, Alta.) were sixth and 23rd amidst men.
All the Canadians pushed the Maple Leaf to its third consecutive Nations Cup title, and the seventh in nine years. In fact, Team Canada has won 11 out of 17 total Nations Cups.
