Canada's Marielle Thompson rallies for Olympic silver in ski cross

Sportsnet Staff
Canada’s Marielle Thompson takes silver in the freestyle women’s ski cross during the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, in Zhangjiakou, China, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)
Canada’s Marielle Thompson takes silver in the freestyle women’s ski cross during the Beijing Winter Olympic Games, in Zhangjiakou, China, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022. (Sean Kilpatrick/THE CANADIAN PRESS)

Canada’s Marielle Thompson won a silver medal with a great comeback in the women’s ski cross final on Thursday at the Beijing Olympics.

It was Thompson’s second career Olympic medal in the event after taking gold in 2014 in Sochi.

The 29-year-old native of Whistler, B.C., gave Canada its 20th medal in Beijing.

Thompson rallied in the second half of the four-woman race, overtaking Fanny Smith of Switzerland and Daniela Maier of Germany to take silver.

Reigning world champion Saendra Naslund of Sweden won gold.

Smith crossed third, but was disqualified for contact on a video review — giving the bronze to Maier.

Thompson returned at the start of this season after suffering a torn ACL last March. In mid-December she earned her 25th career World Cup victory in Arosa, Switzerland before claiming her 50th career World Cup podium in mid-January in Nakiska, Alta.

Thompson also suffered a serious knee injury before the 2018 Olympics and was eliminated in the first round.

Thompson was the only one of four Canadians to advance out of the semifinals — the top two in each four-woman race moved on. Thompson finished second behind Naslund in the first semifinal. Canada’s Hannah Schmidt was third and Courtney Hoffos was fourth.

In the second semifinal, Canada’s Brittany Phelan was eliminated in a thrilling three-way photo finish when the reigning Olympic silver medallist crossed just behind Maier and Smith.

Phelan won the small final to place fifth overall, finishing ahead of Hoffos and Schmidt.

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