Calgary, AB. (Jan 26, 2024) — Valérie Grenier (St. Isidore, ON) raced her first World Cup downhill in five years today and made it on the podium with a third-place finish at the FIS Ski World Cup women’s downhill at Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA). This is Grenier’s career best result in the downhill, and her fourth World Cup podium with all of them coming in the last 12 months.

Grenier last raced in a World Cup downhill in Cortina in January 2019, and then a month later, while training downhill at the 2019 World Championships, she suffered a leg injury. Since returning from injury Grenier’s focus has been on giant slalom, where she currently sits fifth in the World Cup standings, and super-G. With today’s result Grenier moves up into ninth place in the overall World Cup standings.

“I still can’t believe it,” said a grinning Grenier an hour after her race. ”I felt really good with my run today. The whole way down I was on the line I wanted but when I crossed the finish and saw third place I was shocked. There were no expectations coming into today and the team kept it pretty relaxed at the top as we were warming-up. It can help sometimes when you just relax and go ski.”

The last Canadian women to podium in downhill was Larisa Yurkiw who finished second, also in Cortina, in 2016. Canada’s alpine women will continue racing this weekend in Cortina with another downhill scheduled tomorrow and a super-G on Sunday.

Next races: (link to FIS Calendar)

Women alpine continue in Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) Jan 27 and 28

Men alpine race SG in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (GER) Jan 27 and 28

Ski cross race in St. Moritz (SUI) Jan 28

Para-alpine head to Cortina d’Ampezzo (ITA) Jan 30 through Feb 2

Follow Canada’s Ski Team this season on Alpine Canada’s website, across our social media accounts and subscribe to our newsletter.

-30-

For more information or media inquiries please contact: 

Mark Halliday
Alpine Canada
403 777 3204
media@alpinecanada.org

About Alpine Canada 

Alpine Canada is the governing body for alpine, para-alpine, and ski cross racing in Canada, as well as for Canadian ski coaches, providing education, certification, insurance, and compliance with the coaching code of conduct. With the support of valued corporate partners and donors, along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium, the Canadian Olympic Committee, and the Coaching Association of Canada, Alpine Canada develops Olympic, Paralympic, World Championship, and World Cup athletes to stimulate visibility, inspiration, and growth in the ski community.