Smith and Regez combine for ‘fairytale’ World Mixed Team win

World champions Fanny Smith and Ryan Regez returned to the Engadin valley, 24 hours after their individual successes, to secure themselves and the host nation further honors at the FIS Freeski World Championships.

After their history-making and moral boosting victories on Friday, the Swiss pair were unsurprisingly ranked among the favorites for the Mixed Team event.

However, their success owed much to the endeavors of Smith in the semi-final, who dragged ‘Switzerland 1’ from fourth to first after Regez had struggled in the opening stages of the men’s run.

Each performed exceptionally in their respective final runs though, with Regez giving Smith a slender lead, before she secured the title ahead of rivals from France and Italy.

"We couldn’t have wished for better and I think we are kind of exhausted,” Smith told FIS after claiming her third career World Championships gold medal.

“I went really deep (in the semi-final) and I’m lucky I’m fit but that cost me a lot. I pushed, pushed, pushed and we won today it’s amazing.”

Regez added; This is a fairy tale and a dream come true, yesterday with first World title and now doubling with this fun of team event; it’s incredible!”

‘France 2’, which consisted of Melvin Tchiknavorian and Jade Grillet Aubert, took second, with Yanick Gunsch and Jole Galli of ‘Italy 1’ third.

"I'm very happy, very good skiing today," said Tchiknavorian.

"My team-mate (Grillet Aubert) was very, very good and she was able to stay in front and keep speed on the track and finally it's crazy."

For Galli it was her second successive bronze medal, repeating the achievement of 2023 when she was paired with Federico Tomasoni.

"Not a bad (result), also after the tough race yesterday I'm really happy because I knew we could do it because if i had to choose a partner in crime, the mentallity of Yanick (Gunsch) is one of the strongest, so I'm really happy to race with him and he did a good job.

Gunsch continued; "I have to say thank you to Jole, we push each other and I tried to give me best.

A first podium and first medal, so it's amazing."

‘France 1’, who made up the four-strong line-up in the final, would have been expected to challenge for the medals, with Youri Duplessis Kergomard and Marielle Berger Sabbatel each attaining recent World Cup successes.

The pair had both finished fourth in their respective individual finals on Friday and also placed in that position in the Mixed Team discipline’s World Championship debut two years ago.

Despite a strong start from Duplessis Kergomard, Berger Sabbatel lost speed in the mid-section of the final and ultimately they would agonizingly finish just outside of the podium places once more.