Silver: Fanny Smith celebrates after crossing the finish line
Image: Keystone
The battle for the medals is close: Daniela Maier leads ahead of Fanny Smith and Sandra Näslund
Image: Keystone
Fanny Smith beaming with the silver medal
Image: Keystone
Silver: Fanny Smith celebrates after crossing the finish line
Image: Keystone
The battle for the medals is close: Daniela Maier leads ahead of Fanny Smith and Sandra Näslund
Image: Keystone
Fanny Smith beaming with the silver medal
Image: Keystone
Fanny Smith wins Olympic silver in Livigno ski cross. Gold goes to the German Daniela Maier, bronze to the Swede Sandra Näslund. The current top 3 of this season are on the podium.
20.02.2026, 12:26
20.02.2026, 14:58
SDA
The four finalists fought a close race on the long, exhausting course in Livigno. Näslund, the Olympic champion from Beijing, initially took the lead, but was unable to keep up the pace until the finish. She lost momentum in the numerous waves and dropped to third place.
Fanny Smith, on the other hand, moved forward and came close to Maier once again, but was unable to find a gap for the decisive attack. The trio was close together at the finish, with only France's Marielle Berger Sabbatel not in contention for the medals.
Third medal
This is the 33-year-old from Vaud's third medal in her fifth Olympic appearance. She took bronze in Pyeongchang in 2018 and in Beijing in 2022. Four years ago, she only shared bronze with Maier after a long back and forth - now they both stood on the podium together, this time with gold and silver.
Fanny Smith, the 2013 and 2025 World Champion, had been struggling with inflammation in her back muscles in the run-up to the event and had recently given up World Cup races in order to save energy. Her risk paid off in Livigno.
Daniela Maier, 29 years old and known as the "sunshine from the Black Forest" because she always appears with a smile, made the most of her opportunity. She got off to a good start, kept the pace high on the flat sections and defended her line resolutely.
Just missed the final
Talina Gantenbein missed out on a place in the final in a photo finish. The Grisons athlete was caught by Berger Sabbatel in the semi-final and came 5th in the small final. Sixtine Cousin came 7th. Saskja Lack and Canada's Marielle Thompson were eliminated in the quarter-finals.
The long course was noticeably hard on the athletes' legs. The overall pace remained low and every wave demanded active acceleration. On Saturday, the men will decide the medals among themselves at the same venue.
