Valérie Grenier concluded the best season of her career with a bronze medal in the giant slalom of the World Cup final disputed today in Andorra.
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This second career medal had a special flavor for the Mont-Tremblant club’s color bearer.
“I wanted to prove that my victory in Kranjska Gora in Slovenia was not a fluke,” explained Grenier. I wanted to achieve another podium before the end of the season to confirm that I find myself with the best. I’m really happy to end this way and proud of my season. »
Sense of deja vu
Second after the first run, Grenier found herself in the same position as at Are in Sweden last weekend, where she finally took sixth place.
“I didn’t want the same thing to happen,” she said. After a few mistakes on the first run, I wanted to do well in the top section on my second. It went well. I just wanted to see the number 1 or 2 on the board when I crossed the finish line. I was super happy to see that I was second. Mikaela Shiffrin started last and she got ahead of me, but it didn’t matter. I had confirmed my podium. »
His bronze medal allows Grenier to end the season in seventh place overall, the best result of his career.
In addition to her two individual medals, she won bronze in the mixed team event
globally.
“It was one of my goals at the start of the season to finish in the Top 7 and that’s really cool to have achieved it. It shows my consistency. I have mixed feelings that the season is over because I had some good times, but the break and coming home is going to be good. »
Trembling Steering
From April 4 to 14, Grenier and the Canadian team will take part in a camp at Tremblant on the course that will host two stages of the World Cup on December 2 and 3.
“These two World Cups at home come at a perfect time. I’m at my best in giant slalom. Couldn’t ask for better. »
Norwegian Thea Louise Stjernesund (1 min 55.94 s) slipped between Shiffrin (1 min 55.88 s) and Grenier (1 min 56.08 s). For the American, it was a 21st career victory in the giant slalom, which allows her to overtake the Swiss Vreni Schneider at the top.
At the same time, Shiffrin signs his 138th career podium, which allows him to write another page of history. His compatriot Lindsey Vonn ranks second with 137 podiums.
