Olympic champions Leman, Thompson to lead Canada’s ski cross team in Beijing | CBC Sports

“It’s amazing to be heading back to the Olympics for the third time,” said Phelan, who suffered a season-ending injury in 2020. “It was a long recovery to get back here. The Olympics are special, they only come around every four years and the whole year leading up has to go well.”

Canada has won ski cross gold on the women’s side at every Games since the event made its debut in 2010 in Vancouver.

The ski cross team is entering the Games on the heels of an impressive performance at Nakiska, Alta., last week where they claimed a gold and two silver medals.

WATCH | CBC Sports’ Returning Champions series features Leman:

Returning Champions: Brady Leman

Canadian ski cross athlete Brady Leman reflects on his journey to winning an Olympic gold medal in PyeongChang and his outlook heading into the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. 3:48

Broderick Thompson, who captured bronze in the first super-G World Cup of the season, and Marie-Michele Gagnon, Ali Nullmeyer, Jack Crawford, who’ve all had top-five World Cup finishes this season, lead the alpine team announced Friday.

Canada has 11 Olympic alpine skiing medals, the most recent being a bronze in the men’s super G at Sochi 2014.

“It is always an amazing opportunity to race on the world’s biggest stage and proudly represent your country,” said Crawford. “The Olympics have always been on my radar and going into Beijing will be crazy because I’ve proven I actually have a real shot at the podium.”

The alpine events are Feb. 6-19 at the Yanqing Alpine Skiing Centre. Ski cross events will take place Feb. 17-18 at the Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou.

WATCH | Crawford 6th in Kitzbühel on Friday:

Toronto’s Jack Crawford skis to 6th place in World Cup downhill race in Kitzbuehel

Toronto’s Jack Crawford finished in sixth place on the famed Streif on Hahnenkamm mountain in Kitzbuehel, Austria. 2:13

Full alpine team

• Jack Crawford, Toronto
• Marie-Michele Gagnon, Lac Etchemin, Que. 
• Cassidy Gray, Invermere, B.C.
• Valerie Grenier, St-Isidore, Ont.
• Ali Nullmeyer, Toronto
• Erin Mielzynski, Collingwood, Ont.
• Trevor Philp, Calgary
• Erik Read, Canmore, Alta.
• Roni Remme, Collingwood, Ont.
• Brodie Seger, North Vancouver, B.C.
• Amelia Smart, Invermere, B.C.
• Laurence St-Germain, St. Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que.
• Broderick Thompson, Whistler, B.C.

Full ski cross team

• Kevin Drury, Toronto
• Courtney Hoffos, Windermere, B.C.
• Reece Howden, Cultus Lake, B.C.
• Brady Leman, Calgary
• Brittany Phelan, Mont-Tremblant, Que.
• Hannah Schmidt, Ottawa, Ont.
• Jared Schmidt, Ottawa, Ont.
• Marielle Thompson, Whistler, B.C.