Valérie Grenier does not hesitate when asked what her goal is at the Beijing Olympics.
“I’m aiming for a medal. One hundred percent. That’s the goal,” Grenier said.
The 25-year-old from Mont-Tremblant will represent Canada again after finishing sixth overall at the Pyeongchang Olympics.
It was the best result by a Canadian in alpine skiing at the 2018 Games. Grenier hopes to reach even greater heights this year, although she will not compete in the combined.
“It was quite surprising when it happened and I was in the combined race, so it was a bit different for me,” said Grenier, also 23.and in the super-G and 21st in the downhill, in Pyeongchang. As the Beijing Games approach, I feel really confident.
“I know I can do better (than in Pyeongchang)… I was still quite young, I was still in my debut on the World Cup circuit. »
Grenier has focused on giant slalom in the 2021-22 season, consistently placing in or near the top 10.
She started the World Cup season with a seventh-place finish in Austria on October 23, before finishing fourth in Slovakia on January 8 and an 11and place in Italy on Tuesday.
In addition, Grenier won a giant slalom on January 20 and 21 in Pozza di Fassa, during the Italian national championships.
“Now that I’ve been here for a while, I know at these (Olympic Games) I can do really well and go for the podium,” said Grenier. It wasn’t even a goal for me (in Pyeongchang.)”
Grenier’s results in 2021-22 are particularly impressive given that she lost two seasons after a fall while training at the World Championships in Are, Sweden in February 2019. Grenier fractured her right tibia, the fibula and the right ankle in the accident.
She took her time coming back, because it’s so easy to come back too soon from an injury of this magnitude.
“I missed a lot more time than expected,” said Grenier. But it was worth it to make sure I had really regained my strength, that I was ready to come back. Ski racing is a tough sport and you never know what can happen. »
The Canadian Alpine Ski Team was named Friday. Grenier is among a mix of veterans and young skiers.
Ali Nullmeyer from Toronto, Amelia Smart from Invermere (BC), Britt Richardson from Calgary, Cassidy Gray from Invermere, Erin Mielzynski from Collingwood (Ontario), Laurence St-Germain from St-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Marie-Michèle Gagnon of Lac-Etchemin and Roni Remme of Collingwood complete the women’s alpine ski team.
The competition will begin with the giant slalom on February 7, and the medals will be awarded that day. The slalom will take place on February 9, the super-G on February 11 and the downhill on February 15, while the combined downhill and slalom will take place on February 17.