Media Release
Alison Mackie Makes History as First Canadian Woman to Win U23 Overall World Cup Title
Canada’s Alison Mackie has officially been crowned the women’s U23 overall winner of the 2025–26 FIS Cross‑Country World Cup. Making history, she became the first Canadian woman ever to claim the prestigious title, capping off a breakout season for the 20‑year‑old rising star.
Mackie won the green bib with 548 points, finishing ahead of Italy’s Iris De Martin Pinter (488 points) and Andorra’s Gina del Rio (451 points) in the final rankings. Her consistency on the World Cup circuit defined a season that now stands as a record-setting moment for Canadian cross‑country skiing.
“This is a really, really special feeling,” Mackie said after sealing the title. “I am really proud of my consistency this season, and I think obviously that shows with winning the overall green bib. It hasn’t always been easy… there were stressful moments and some disappointing races, but overall I’m just really proud.”
Mackie has held the U23 lead since the Tour de Ski, a position that came with significant weight. “Ever since I finished the Tour de Ski and have been in the overall U23 World Cup lead, every single weekend after has been a lot of pressure that I’ve put on myself to keep it,” she explained. “It wasn’t even really on my radar this season, so to have it become a reality was special. I didn’t want that taken away from me, so crossing the finish line today was a big feeling of relief and pride.”
At the finish, Mackie broke into tears, something she described as the emotional release of months of effort. “It was definitely a big feeling of relief,” she said. “I put a lot of pressure on myself. When it was finally done, it all hit me at once.”
Her season also included standout performances against the world’s best senior athletes. Among her top World Cup results were a 5th‑place finish in the 5 km free at the Stage World Cup in Toblach, and an 8th‑place finish in the 10 km mass start free in Val di Fiemme, Italy. These performances underscored her ability to excel not only in U23 competition but also on the broader World Cup stage.
Mackie’s historic title adds to an already exceptional season. She captured gold in the 20 km mass start free at the FIS Nordic Junior & U23 World Ski Championships, finished 8th in her Olympic debut, and contributed to strong Canadian team performances in both the relay and team sprint.
“Oh, absolutely, this has been a dream season,” Mackie said. “My two big goals were to make the Olympic team and to medal at U23s. So to win U23s, be top 10 in my first Olympics, along with the excellent team results we had, and then to get the green bib too, I can’t ask for more.”
Mackie’s breakthrough highlights the momentum of Canada’s next generation of athletes and the increasing depth of the country’s cross-country skiing talent pool.