“I feel cheated”: Guay and the tricky exclusion from the squad

In the fall of 2018, two-time world champion Erik Guay ended his successful career and has been working in the Canadian Ski Association ever since. He is supposed to bring the recently weak team back to where it was during his active career - namely to the top of the world. However, this task is by no means easy, not least because the association is struggling financially. This is also why – similar to Italy – the teams and their size were reduced. Benjamin Thomsen, among others, suffered the most because he was not at all happy about what he saw as the sudden exclusion. “I was so unlucky” Benjamin Thomsen “It’s super frustrating and I feel a bit cheated,” says Thomsen angrily, although he admits that he “wasn’t in top shape in any way. I have to take responsibility for my lack of results." Nevertheless, the 32-year-old would not have expected such a drastic step: "I was so unlucky and therefore didn't expect that I wouldn't be selected by the coaches under the circumstances. “

Benjamin Thomsen feels he has been treated unfairly. © Pentaphoto

The circumstances Thomsen is referring to date back to the disastrous 2018-19 season for the Canadian men's downhill team. At that time, Manuel Osborne-Paradis suffered one at the World Cup in Lake Louise cruel injury, which triggered Guay's early resignation the following day. But that's not all: head coach Burkhard Schaffer was fired during the season in question, pneumonia and a patellar tendon rupture set Thomsen back. And to make matters worse, he also lost his service man due to an injury. The association's severe budget cuts did the rest. “Adhered to criteria” Thomsen's statements did not fall on deaf ears at Alpine Canada. Guay, for example, defended the exclusion of his former teammate - also because it gives other, young talents a chance. “We spent so much time talking about it,” Guay said. “But Ben's development last year went in the wrong direction and ultimately he is not in the top 30. He is capable of achieving great results and getting on the podium. But we had to make some tough decisions and this was certainly one of them. It's not like we're against him. We just stick to hard criteria.”

Thomsen now has to fight his way back into the squad on his own - and has already collected money for this, because he will have to forego the association's financial support in the future.

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“I feel cheated”: Guay and the tricky exclusion from the squad

As a result of a disastrous season, Canadian speed specialist Benjamin Thomsen was left out of any roster. His former teammate and friend Erik Guay has now reacted to this - and defended his association's decision.

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