For just the third time in Canadian history, a men’s skier has won a world title. His name is Jack Crawford and he’s born and raised right here in Toronto.
Crawford landed on top of the podium at the FIS Alpine World Ski Championships in Courchevel and Méribel, France just 0.01 seconds ahead of Norway’s Aleksander Aamodt Kilde. France’s Alexis Pinturault, who won the alpine combined on Tuesday, finished, 0.26 of second back of Crawford.
This is Crawford’s third world championships, his seventh world championship start and his first world championship podium.
“I’ve been dreaming of standing at the top of a World Cup podium for a long time,” said Crawford. “It feels incredible to make it there at a world championships. We had a good plan and I felt confident this morning. It took some of my best skiing on a line that was a little more risky but it panned out today and it was just enough to win. The best ski racers in the world are here and I’m happy to on their level today.”
Crawford, along with his sister and former alpine skier Candace, who competed for Team Canada at the 2018 Winter Olympics, grew up in North Toronto around Eglinton and Mount Pleasant. He cut his downhill skiing teeth like many a Torontonian in Collingwood at Georgian Peaks Ski Club.
And, although it’s rare for an alpine skier from the flatlands of Ontario to reach such heights, the Crawford family has a bit of a legacy. Jack’s father and aunt were both ski racers with Judy Crawford becoming the first alpine skier from Ontario to represent Canada at the Olympics. According to a 2018 article, Judy’s parents Don and Joan Crawford, were among the first members of Georgian Peaks ski club.
WE HAVE A WORLD CHAMP🙌🇨🇦
Jack Crawford stuns the world with his victory in the super-G on Thursday, becoming just the 3rd Canadian man to win a world title in alpine skiing. #TeamCanada pic.twitter.com/PlJk5ALvTP
— Team Canada (@TeamCanada) February 9, 2023
At the world championships, Canada placed three men in the top 11, with Brodie Seger (North Vancouver, BC) finishing ninth for his second top 10 at a world championships, and Jeffrey Read (Canmore, AB) racing to 11th. Broderick Thompson (Whistler, BC) didn’t finish his run.
“We have a great group of guys,” added Crawford. “We’ve all come up together and we’ve built a great environment, none of us would have the success we’ve had without the others.”
Erik Guay was the last Canadian man to win a world title back in 2017, also in super-G. And before that, it was John Kucera, now the head coach for Canada’s men’s team, won downhill gold in 2009.
“It was a really strong team performance today,” said Kucera. “I’m really proud to see three guys in the top 11, including one on the top of the podium. That’s an amazing day anywhere, but it’s extra special to put that level of performance together at a world championships. It was incredibly tight racing, Jeff and Brodie were just a couple of tenths from the podium.”