The skier Olivia Asselin concluded among the top-5 of a World Cup final for the first time in his career, Saturday, in Colorado. She finished fifth in the Big Air event at Steamboat Springs with a total of 166.5 points.
Asselin had never made it to a big jump final on this circuit before. Ranked sixth in qualifying, she started this final round with a score of 79.25 points.
She made her second jump, but it was on her third pass that she got her best score. Pensive, the Lévisienne then received a score of 87.25 points to climb the standings.
“Having tacked a bit early on landing, I thought it was going to penalize me, but they (the judges) didn’t count it in the end. So much the better ! »She confided with relief to Sportcom.
“I felt good and I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself. In the final, I was just happy to be there. ”
Her compatriot Elena Gaskell also took part in this final. She accumulated 166.75 points to take fourth place. Her presence added to an important moment for Olivia Asselin, who could count on the support of her friend.
“It gave way! It was fun having a teammate with me so that we could encourage each other, said Asselin. I am proud of myself. It proves to me that I am capable of performing well, or even of doing better for the next competitions. ”
China’s Gu Ailing Eileen gave her all at the end of the competition to take the lead. His 96 points obtained on his third try brought his total to 184.25 points. A good harvest for the gold medal. The French Tess Ledeux (177.5 points) and the Norwegian Johanne Killi (177 points) followed on the podium.
On the men’s side, Quebecer Édouard Therriault was stopped in qualifying. It points to 17e rank of the final standings, the best Canadian result for men.
It was the second World Cup of the season at this event. Olivia Asselin missed the final in Chur by placing 24e, in October. Therriault had meanwhile withdrawn from the competition.