Calgary, Alta. (February 10, 2017) – The World Championships in St. Moritz (SUI) continue and Canada lands another top ten result. Quebec’s Marie-Michèle Gagnon put together a downhill run and slalom run to finish in sixth-place, 1.27 seconds out from the winning time. Gagnon was 13th after the downhill run and made up seven spots with her slalom run for a World Championship top 10 finish. This is Gagnon’s best-ever World Championship result.  

“The sixth-place is a good start to World Championships,” said Gagnon. “I’m still a little bit disappointed because I feel I didn’t give my best. I feel like I was missing a bit of the attack in both the downhill and the slalom. I feel like I held back a little bit, which I am disappointed with. I didn’t give myself the best chance to be on the podium and I feel like I could’ve been there. I’m still happy with the result and hopefully I can learn from my mistake and move forward.”

The athletes raced in lightly falling snow all day that produced flat light and contributed to the FIS official decision to lower the downhill start to the super-G start. 

Also representing Canada today was Quebec’s Valérie Grenier and Mikaela Tommy, and Ontario’s Candace Crawford. Grenier was 14th after the downhill run and finished the day in 11th-place overall. Crawford clinched a spot in the top 30 after the downhill and was second out of the slalom gate. Taking advantage of her early slalom start, she finished in 21st-place. Tommy was putting down a blazing slalom run before making a mistake that resulted in a DNF. 

It was a good day for the Swiss home crowd with Wendy Holdener taking the win and teammate Michele Gisin finishing in second-place. Austria’s Michaela Kirchgasser finished in third-place, 0.38 seconds back from the lead-time. 

Tomorrow the men’s speed team is up gunning for the World Championship downhill title. 

Canadian men’s results

6 – Marie-Michèle Gagnon

11 – Valérie Grenier

21 – Candace Crawford

DNF – Mikaela Tommy

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