Marielle THOMPSON

INNOVATIVE KNEE SURGERY
When she ruptured her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) in training in October 2017 just four months prior to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, she knew she needed a miracle to be ready in February 2018. Winnipeg's Dr. Peter MacDonald, offered her an innovative new surgical repair using an artificial graft giving her hope of competing in PyeongChang but zero guarantee given the aggressive timeline. "I wanted to give it a shot, and I think it made me certainly more resilient. There was a lot of work day-to-day and not enough time to get there." (cbc.ca, 11 Dec 2020)

HOMETOWN INSPIRATION
Was inspired by seeing another skier from her hometown of Whistler, BC, Ashleigh McIvor win ski cross gold at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games, making her realize that maybe someday she could too. She first made the national team alongside her hero McIvor in the 2010/11 season at age 18. At Sochi 2014, she became the second-straight Whistler-born-and-raised ski cross racer to claim Olympic gold. (bcsportshall.com)

BREAKTHROUGH
In 2012 she broke through with her first World Cup gold medal, on home snow at Ontario’s Blue Mountain, and then won the 2012 overall World Cup title in ski cross - the first Canadian ski cross racer to win a Crystal Globe (the first of three).

IN THE ZONE
She gets in the zone by listening to Taylor Swift or Katy Perry songs, “pump-up jams” she chooses because they’re positive and easy to sing along to. “When I’m ski racing, I guess I don’t show a lot of emotion on my face, so people think I’m always mad. I give the impression that I’m not happy, but I’m usually just in the zone when I’m skiing.” (skicanada.org)

CONSISTENCY
Has been called the most consistent ski cross racer on the planet. “It means a lot to have so many people having that sort of confidence in me. I try to do my best, I know everyone is watching me." (theprovince.com, 29 May 2019)

FAMILY AFFAIR
Parents Rod and Pam are both former ski instructors who now ski “just for fun” with their kids. Sister Tess skied competitively until age 13. Brother Broderick likes to claim some responsibility for his sister’s success. "He was always that younger brother giving me the push I needed. We’re close for sure.” (skicanada.org)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Beijing 2022 silver medallist in ski cross.

In her Olympic debut at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, she won the gold medal in ski cross, holding off Canadian teammate Kelsey Serwa who captured the silver medal, yet still yelled “inside, inside” during the pivotal first turn, prompting her to leave Thompson the necessary space. (nationalpost.com)

When she competed at PyeongChang 2018 she hadn't been on a ski course for four months due to a serious knee injury in October 2017 and posted the fastest time in the qualification round. In the 1/8 finals, she lasted a few seconds before she crashed on the course unable to finish and advance.

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
2019 World champion in women's ski cross ahead of Fanny Smith (SUI) and Alizee Baron (FRA). 2013 Junior World champion.

WORLD CUP
Was just 19 when she earned her first World Cup podium victory, in February 2012, which happened on Canadian soil at Blue Mountain (Ontario).

CRYSTAL GLOBE
Three-time World Cup Crystal Globe winner (2012, 2014, 2017) and was second in 2016. In 2012, she became the first Canadian athlete ever to claim the overall World Cup title in ski cross.