Canadian Ski Cross Racer Kevin Drury Retires After Dramatic Crash
Kopaonik, Serbia – A promising season and a decorated career came to an abrupt end for Canadian ski cross racer Kevin Drury on Friday, February 27, 2026, following a crash at the World Cup event in Kopaonik. The 37-year-old Toronto native, already planning his retirement at the end of the season, sustained an injury during the big final, marking a bittersweet conclusion to his competitive journey.
Collision in the Big Final
The incident unfolded early in the race when Germany’s Florian Wilmsmann and Reece Howden of Cultus Lake, B.C., clipped skis while vying for the lead. This initial contact led to Wilmsmann’s fall, and subsequently, Drury and Germany’s Tim Hronek collided with the downed skier. All three were unable to finish the race.
Despite the crash and resulting injury, Drury was awarded the silver medal. The tiebreaker, based on qualifying results, favored Drury, who had qualified third compared to Wilmsmann’s eleventh place.
An Instagram post made by ski-cross racer Kevin Drury following a crash at an event in Serbia, on Friday. (@drury.kc/Instagram)
Hronek Claims Gold, Howden Penalized
Tim Hronek secured the gold medal, being the only racer to navigate a key gate cleanly. Reece Howden, despite completing the race, was penalized with a yellow card for a line deviation, resulting in a fourth-place finish.
A Career of Achievements
Drury’s career boasts 20 World Cup podiums across 120 World Cup starts, including six victories. His most recent win came in Val Thorens earlier this season. Hronek dedicated his win to Drury, acknowledging his impact on the sport and expressing sadness over the unfortunate end to his career.
Women’s Race Results
In the women’s competition, Sandra Naeslund of Sweden took gold. Hannah Schmidt of Ottawa finished fourth, while Marielle Thompson of Whistler, B.C., won the modest final to secure fifth place. Tiana Gairns of Prince George, B.C., placed fifteenth.
FAQ
Q: What caused the crash?
A: The crash began when Florian Wilmsmann and Reece Howden clipped skis, leading to a chain reaction involving Kevin Drury and Tim Hronek.
Q: How did Drury still get a silver medal?
A: Drury was awarded silver due to a tiebreaker based on qualifying results, as he had a higher qualifying rank than Wilmsmann.
Q: What is the extent of Drury’s injuries?
A: The extent of Drury’s injuries is currently unknown, but he posted a photo of his leg heavily bandaged on Instagram.
Q: Who won the women’s race?
A: Sandra Naeslund of Sweden won the gold medal in the women’s race.
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