Swiss skiers Ryan Regez and Fanny Smith clinched the gold medal in the ski cross mixed team finals at the Freestyle World Championships in St. Moritz. Their triumph follows their individual successes, further solidifying their dominance in the event.
The mixed team event, which sees men start first followed by a staggered start for women based on their partners’ times, saw Regez seizing the opportunity in the final moments. Despite a strong challenge from French skiers Youri Duplessis Kergomard and Melvin Tchiknavorian, Regez’s strategic maneuver in the final corner secured the lead for Switzerland. Fanny Smith, maintaining her lead with precision and speed, crossed the finish line first, ensuring a Swiss victory.
This achievement adds to Smith’s impressive career, which includes individual gold at the 2013 World Championships. “It’s a fantastic feeling to win here in St. Moritz,” Smith commented. “The support and energy from the crowd was incredible.”
The French duo of Tchiknavorian and Jade Grillet-Aubert earned the silver, while Italy’s Yanick Gunsch and Jole Galli secured the bronze medal.
Meanwhile, in the women’s parallel slalom, Japan’s Miki Tsubaki turned the tables on Czech competitor Ester Ledecka, capturing gold. Ledecka, known for her versatility in both snowboarding and alpine skiing, had previously defeated Tsubaki in the parallel giant slalom, securing her first snowboarding world title in eight years.
In other events, Bulgaria’s 20-year-old Tervel Zamfirov emerged victorious in the men’s title, defeating Austria’s Arvid Auner, while Italian veteran Aaron March claimed the bronze.
On a related note, American ski racing legend Lindsey Vonn has set her sights on the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics. After returning to competition following a partial knee replacement, Vonn is using this season as preparation for the Olympics. Her history of success at Cortina, with multiple World Cup victories, fuels her comeback. Vonn revealed in a recent AP interview that her focus is on refining her skills and routines for next year. “Cortina is one of my favorite places, so that’s the carrot that was dangling in front of me,” she said, reflecting on her motivation.
