Swiss celebrate ‘unreal’ success as Smith and Regez claim World titles

Legendary Swiss ski cross champion Fanny Smith returned to the summit of the World Championships podium for the first time in 12 years, while Olympic champion team-mate Ryan Regez claimed his maiden World gold after a dramatic conclusion to the day’s action.

Both athletes were highly fancied, having qualified top of their respective qualification rounds in Engadin (SUI) on Thursday, but each faced a host of high-class opponents, who each possessed podium potential. 

The 32-year-old Smith won her last global crown back in 2013, which began her incredible record of success with this latest honor marking a seventh consecutive World Championships top-three finish.

She held off strong challenges from Courtney Hoffos (CAN) and Daniela Maier (GER), who placed second and third respectively in the women’s final.

“It’s just amazing, thanks to everyone who cheered for me, in the crowd, on the slopes and volunteers, there are so many emotions right now,” said Smith, who admitted her second World title was slightly more special than the first she claimed in 2013.

“Yeah, I think really because it’s at home in Switzerland, but also I’ve been through a lot over the last year and it’s just amazing to see I’m still here.”

The contrast in contests could hardly have been more marked when compared with the men’s final.

Japan’s Ryo Sugai crashed moments after the start, following a timing error, before the challenge of German Tobias Mueller looked to have ended after he left the course.

That allowed Regez to effectively ease to victory, with Youri Duplessis Kergomard (FRA) crossing the line second.

However, the jury ultimately ruled that the Frenchman had impeded Mueller (GER) and he would be awarded silver after Duplessis Kergomard received a yellow card.

Sugai (JPN) eventually made it down the course after recovering his skis and was able to celebrate a surprised bronze, which was also his nation’s first-ever World honor in the sport.

“Oh my god I can’t believe it,” said a delighted Regez, who has now won the career triple crown of Olympic and World gold, together with the FIS World Cup Crystal Globe.

“Honestly, it started off after probably the worst heats of my life with the contact in turn one and holly smokes, getting lucky because of a crash.

“At times it was scary, but I knew I was fast on this track after qualification.

Regez, who endured a three-year run without a World Cup top-three finish before victory in Val di Fassa (ITA) last month, added; “What a journey (to be) back on the podium. I’ve gone through this in my head so many times, this is crazy, World champion!”

Speed is of course only one element of this sport and while Regez and Smith had topped the standings from qualifying that was no guarantee of success in their races and both endured a true rollercoaster of emotions throughout their contests.

The day’s action began in dramatic fashion, with Regez hitting the deck early on after countryman Romain Detraz put him off balance and that minor collision looked to have ended the Olympic champion’s World prospects.

Rivals Gavin Rowell (CAN) and Adam Kappacher (AUT) looked to have gone clear and be heading into the quarter-finals, but the Canadian made an error while trying to close in on first position and his grounding presented Regez was a reprieve.

The Swiss skier won his quarter-final with east after Olympic silver medalist Alex Fiva (SUI) and 2019 World bronze Kevin Drury (CAN) collided. 

Duplessis Kergomard was the much more impressive performer in the semi-finals, with Regez only just edging second ahead of 2023 Mixed Team World champion David Mobaerg (SWE).

The final was somewhat anticlimactic in terms of race action, but certainly delivered drama when it came to the debates about what had played out and who was ultimately responsible.

The second place finish for 32-year-old Muller was particularly significant for the German who had considered leaving the sport earlier in the season.

“It’s just incredible, because this year was so tough with the surgery in the summer and I couldn’t ski jump on tour,” he told FIS. “After winter I had so much pain in my hip I thought about retiring but I just needed a little bit more time.

“I only qualified for this World Championships in the last race and now to be vice-World champion is incredible!”

Smith began her day with a strong start in her quarter-final but lost speed in the latter part of the course.

The Swiss athlete did enough to progress ahead of Mylene Ballet Baz (FRA), but Smith would again find the latter stages of the semi-final challenging, although she edged an otherwise all French affair, with second behind Marielle Berger Sabbatel. 

The big final was held up for over 20 minutes while former World junior champion India Sherret (CAN) received medal treatment, after she land on one of her ski poles early in the small final.

Once the final contest did begin, Smith made her typically impressive early charge to the front, aware she would likely need a significant advantage heading into the closing stages given her earlier struggles. 

Berger Sabbatel (FRA) was much fancied but an error ultimately ended her podium prospects as Hoffos (CAN) and Maier (GER) claiming their maiden World honors behind Smith.

“I’m so happy with the third place,” Maier told FIS. “I had a lot of struggles in the last weeks and today it felt like the beginning of the season where I had a lot of fun.

“I spent a lot of time with my family and took care of myself, got out of the bubble and took little steps and that’s how I found fun again.

“I felt fast and a lot of fights and to end up with the bronze medal is perfect.”

With officials revising the schedule for Engadin 2025, due to predicted deteriorating weather conditions over the coming days, the leading two female and male athletes from each nation will now unite for the Team Event on Saturday.