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Canada's Hannah Schmidt wins ski cross silver at World Cup in France

Hannah Schmidt, shown in this file photo, did not make the podium last season on the ski cross World Cup circuit, but landed a silver medal on Friday in Val Thorens, France. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press - image credit)
Hannah Schmidt, shown in this file photo, did not make the podium last season on the ski cross World Cup circuit, but landed a silver medal on Friday in Val Thorens, France. (Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press - image credit)

There was hope for a one-two finish for Canada when two of its women's ski cross athletes, Hannah Schmidt and India Sherret found themselves in the FIS World Cup ski cross big final in Val Thorens, France on Friday.

There was not very placement changes during the race and Schmidt found herself steadily in second place throughout, resulting in a silver-medal finish for the 28-year-old Olympian from Ottawa.

"I'm a little speechless, a World Cup podium was a goal on the bucket list and I'm excited to cross it off," Schmidt said in a release. "It was a pretty wild day out there but we had a plan, and I skied the way that I know I can ski. We're now off to a sprint race in [Switzerland] on Monday night and looking forward to getting back at it."

Schmidt has strung together six consecutive top six finishes, this silver being her best result yet.

Fellow Canadian India Sherret, of Cranbrook B.C.,  finished the race in fourth place behind bronze medallist Germany's Daniela Maier.

The entire field completed the race behind Swedish skiier Sandra Naeslund, as the the reigning Olympic gold medallist took the top spot on the podium in Val Thorens.

WATCH | Schmidt races to silver in Val Thorens:

On the men's side, Austrian Mathias Graf took gold, while Youri Duplessis Kergomard of France grabbed silver and Marc Bischofberger of Switzerland rounded dout the podium in bronze-medal position.

Reece Howden was the top Canadian men's finisher. Howden, of Chilliwack, B.C.  finished third in his quarter-final heat and failed to make it through to the semis.

The next stop on the World Cup circuit races is in Arosa, Switzerland, beginning on Monday.

WATCH | World Cup ski cross full event from Val Thorens: