Larisa Yurkiw (born March 30, 1988) is a Canadian retired World Cup alpine ski racer, specializing in the speed events of downhill and super-G.

Larisa Yurkiw
January 2009
Personal information
Born (1988-03-30) March 30, 1988 (age 36)
Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada
OccupationAlpine skier
Height1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Skiing career
DisciplinesDownhill, Super-G
ClubGeorgian Peaks Ski Club, Thornbury, Ontario
World Cup debutJanuary 13, 2007 (age 18)
Retired11 May 2016 (age 28)
Websitelarisayurkiw.com
Olympics
Teams1 – (2014)
Medals0
World Championships
Teams3 – (2009, 2013, 2015)
Medals0
World Cup
Seasons6 – (200910, 201316)
Wins0
Podiums4 – (4 DH)
Overall titles0 – (22nd in 2016)
Discipline titles0 – (3rd in DH, 2016)

Born in Owen Sound, Ontario, Yurkiw made her World Cup debut at Altenmarkt-Zauchensee, Austria, in a downhill event in January 2007. In 2015, she achieved a personal best at Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy when she placed 2nd in the DH discipline. She went on to achieve three more World Cup podiums.

On December 16, 2009, a crash during a training run at Val d'Isere resulted in an ACL tear, MCL tear, patellar tendon tear and tears in both the lateral and medial miniscus in her left knee. She did not compete on home soil at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia.

Prior to debuting on the world stage, she had much success as a junior ski racer. She made her debut on the Nor-Am Cup on March 10, 2004, held at her home club, Georgian Peaks. From 2005 to 2009, she reached the podium seventeen times, having won gold eight times in all disciplines but slalom. She also had success racing on the GMC Cup (also known as Pontiac Cup), a non-FIS sanctioned ski series that challenges Canada's most promising skiers. In 2007, Larisa competed on the South American Cup, having posted four top 10 results.

Yurkiw picked up a silver medal at the 2008 FIS Junior World Ski Championships in Formigal, Spain in the combined discipline. From 2006 to 2008, she posted three more top 10 results at this event.

She earned two gold medals at the 2008 Canadian National Championships in Super-G and downhill, and three silver medals in 2009. Since she was still considered a junior in both 2008 and 2009, she went on to become the Canadian National Junior Champion in downhill, giant slalom, and slalom.

Yurkiw announced her retirement on May 11, 2016, via social media, citing her desire to preserve her health. This had come after the best season of her career.


World Cup results

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Season standings

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Season Age  Overall   Slalom  Giant
 slalom 
Super-G Downhill Combined
2009 20 88 33 44
2010 21 95 49 43
2011 22 injured, out for season
2012 23
2013 24 111 42
2014 25 52 40 24
2015 26 32 41 10
2016 27 22 25 3

Race podiums

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  • 4 podiums – (4 DH)
Season Date Location Discipline Place
2015 16 Jan 2015   Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy Downhill 2nd
2016 19 Dec 2015   Val-d'Isère, France Downhill 3rd
9 Jan 2016   Altenmarkt, Austria Downhill 2nd
23 Jan 2016   Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy Downhill 2nd

World Championship results

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  Year    Age   Slalom   Giant 
 slalom 
Super-G Downhill Combined
2009 20 DNF
2011 22
2013 24 23 28 DNF2
2015 26 28 14

Olympic results

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  Year    Age   Slalom   Giant 
 slalom 
Super-G Downhill Combined
2014 25 DNF 20

Equipment and sponsorship

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  • Skis: Rossignol
  • Bindings: Rossignol
  • Boots: Rossignol
  • Poles: Komperdell
  • Helmet & Goggles: Uvex
  • Sponsor: Cresco FX
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