Marie-Michèle Gagnon

Nickname: Mitch! Back when I was on the Skibec team, there were too many Marie-somethings, so my coach shortened Michèle to Mitch . . . it was just that easy!

Best moment in ski racing: My first podium in Are, Sweden – also competing in the home Olympics in 2010.
 
What one thing would you change about ski racing? We should have the same salary as hockey players ... haha! Just kidding, but maybe the number of races in North America. We need more races in our homeland. It would help us feel more at home sometimes during long seasons.
 
Best World Cup stop: Cortina, Italy! The views there are incredible. The food - I mean, it's Italian food :) mmm . . . and the whole scene is a little more relaxed. 
 
Person you look up to most in ski racing: Growing up, Mélanie Turgeon was my idol - she's also from Quebec! Now, I look up to a bunch of skiers on the World Cup - Julia Mancuso, Lindsey Vonn and Didier Cuche.
 
On your iPod: Papa Americano! That's the song I was last stuck to, but otherwise, I love a little summer reggae, Citizen Cope, Bryon Friedman, K'naan, Kaïn (Quebec classic), Michael Franti, Steel Pulse and all the really hip songs of the time. I do love some techno to pump me up too!
 
Favourite movie: Avatar, Fracture, The Hangover . . . I am telling you all these because it's hard to just pick one! Avatar, maybe, because it's a dream world – it’s just fantastic. I want to be an Avatar!
 
Hockey team (and why): Nordiques of Quebec because they are coming back . . . possibly! As much as I know nothing about hockey, I'll still be a fan of my home team!
 
If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Right off the bat: Roger Federer, Lance Armstrong, Ryan Reynolds, Nancy Greene or Rachel McAdams.
 
Something no-one knows about you: I was a little tom-boy when I was young, but that isn't that big of a secret!
 
Favourite activities other than skiing: Mountain biking, hiking, tennis, adventure trips . . . really, any sport. Oh yeah, and cooking!
 
Superstitions: I’m not really superstitious. I try to not be bothered by any of that stuff . . . trying to keep a free spirit, you know? But sometimes during visualization of a course if I see or imagine myself crashing somewhere, I will knock on my helmet to erase fear - haha!
 
If a movie was made about your life, who should play the lead role? Me, of course! Or maybe my sister, because we look similar. I also think the actress Rachel McAdams could be good - she seems to be a really simple person, which I like!
 
What’s a talent you wish you had? Playing a musical instrument. Also, flying could be cool. The feeling we get when flying off jumps on skis is incredible . . . imagine being able to go anywhere!
 
If you weren’t a skier what would you be? An athlete, but in another sport perhaps. Or a physiotherapist!
 
Funniest thing you’ve seen in ski racing: Sarah Schleper roaring in the start. She's one of my favourites!
 
Most embarrassing moment: I went up the gondola in Solden, Austria, with this Austrian ski team girl and I had never skied World Cups before. We started chatting and at one point I just asked what her name was again . . . yeah, of course it was Renate Götschl haha! She was just the best skier in World Cup at the time. I might have even asked her if she was racing the giant slalom the following day! 
 
Describe yourself in three words: Someone once told me I was sassy, so that's one! Passionate and dedicated!

Podiums
3rd – Slalom – Are, SWE (March 2012)

Finishes in the top 10
4th - Slalom - Ofterschwang, GER (March 2013)
5th - Super combined - Meribel, FRA (Feb. 2013)
8th – Slalom- Zagreb, CRO (Jan. 2013)
8th – Super combined – St. Moritz, SUI (Dec. 2012)
10th – Slalom – Levi, FIN (Nov. 2012)
6th – Giant slalom – Soelden, AUT (Oct. 2012)
6th – Slalom – Schladming, AUT (March 2012)
5th – Slalom – Ofterschwang, GER (March 2012)
7th – Giant slalom – Soldeu-Grandvalira, AND (Feb. 2012)
8th – Slalom – Soldeu-Grandvalira, AND (Feb. 2012)
7th – Super combined – St. Moritz, SUI (Jan. 2012)
9th – Slalom – Flachau, AUT (Dec. 2011)
7th – Slalom – Arber-Zwiesel, GER (Feb. 2011)
5th – Giant slalom – St. Moritz, SUI (Dec. 2010)
8th – Slalom – Ofterschwang, GET (March 2009)
9th – Slalom – Cortina d’Ampezzo, ITA (Jan. 2009)

2010 Olympic Winter Games – Vancouver, B.C.
21st – Giant slalom
31st – Slalom

Canadian Championships
Canadian champion – Super-G – Whistler, B.C. (March 2013)
Canadian champion – Giant slalom – Whistler, B.C. (March 2013)
Canadian champion – Slalom – Whistler, B.C. (March 2013)
Canadian champion – Slalom – Mont-Sainte-Anne, Que. (March 2012)
Canadian champion – Slalom – Nakiska, Alta. (March 2011)
Canadian champion – Giant slalom – Nakiska, Alta. (March 2011)
Canadian champion – Super combined – Nakiska, Alta. (March 2011)
Canadian champion – Slalom – Nakiska, Alta. (March 2010)
Canadian champion – Super combined – Nakiska, Alta. (March 2010)
Canadian champion – Super combined – Le Massif, Que. (March 2009)

FIS World Ski Championships
13th - Slalom - Schladming, AUT (Feb. 2013)
8th - Giant slalom - Schladming, AUT (Feb. 2013)
22nd – Super-G – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER (Feb. 2011)
23rd – Giant slalom – Garmisch-Partenkirchen, GER (Feb. 2011)

Nor-Am Cup
Ladies' overall champion (2009)
Giant slalom ladies' champion (2009)
Super combined ladies' champion (2007)