Marielle Thompson (born June 15, 1992) is a Canadian freestyle skier specializing in ski cross. She is the reigning Olympic champion in ski cross when she won gold at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. Marielle was the overall World Cup champion for ski cross in 2011-2012 for which she won the Crystal Globe and was also third overall in freestyle in the same year. In Marielle's 2013-2014 season she won the World Cup Overall Crystal Globe for the second time.
Career
She debuted in the World Cup on December 18, 2010.[3] Thompson first placed in top 3 on December 17, 2011 (got 3rd place) in San Candido, Italy.[3] At 2010–11 World Cup season she placed 50th in Overall Freestyle standings and at 17th place in ski cross standings.[4] Thompson was again a strong contender during the 2013-14 season going into the Winter Olympics, leading the way in the standings again. In the end of the 2014 season she won the World Cup Overall title in an exciting finish in La Plagne, France. Marielle is still the only to Canadian to win a Crystal Globe and now she has received the prestigious award twice.
At the 2014 Winter Olympics, Thompson qualified third going into the elimination rounds for ski cross. Her teammate and compatriot, Kelsey Serwa, qualified in first place just ahead of Ophelie David of France. Thompson made her way into the finals where Serwa also made the final in a near photo finish. In the big final Thompson led nearly the entire way and Serwa trailed just behind after a fall by David. The Canadians would end the race in the one and two positions securing gold and silver. After the race Thompson said that "It's crazy. I don't think it's even sunk in yet. I just had a big wave of emotion. I'm so, so happy, especially to be up there with my teammate. We're just having fun all day. I know Kelsey and we tried to help each other all the way down the course."[5]