Skier strikes Masters gold, bronze in Italy

Lois Johnston is the Yukon’s latest golden girl on the world’s cross-country ski circuit.

Lois Johnston is the Yukon’s latest golden girl on the world’s cross-country ski circuit.

Johnston’s success story has made both the territory and country proud at the Masters World Cup in Italy this week.

The 60-year-old Johnston has already won two gold medals and a bronze while competing in the W7 division (females age 60 to 65) in Asiago, Italy.

Johnston was the first member of the Canadian four-by-5 km relay team that struck gold yesterday.

“We pulled it off,” she told the Star in an email. “Gold in the relay with very stiff competition. I was first out with some very fast skiers, but I kept up to them and we were in the running. We were able to keep up with the second group of classic skiers up … and then our skaters brought it home.

“It was very exciting and I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.”

The gold followed up Johnston’s victory in the 10-km classic race that went Monday.

The skier seemed in disbelief about her race win.

“When I was double-poling to the finish, and they announced that the world champion for W7 was approaching the line, it was such a feeling,” she said. “It was a pretty tight race.”

Johnston spent the first four kilometers of the race behind opposing American and Russian skiers, before deciding to pass them on an uphill route.

“I decided to take off and I never saw them again,” she explained. “I have to say that I liked that feeling of being out in front and there was no way I was going to let anyone pass! I focused on technique … double-poling and kick double-poling, and good strong climbing.”

Johnston also won bronze in the 15-km freestyle ski on Saturday, collecting a personal best en route to her first medal of the competition.

“I had a great race … Can’t quite believe it,” she said. “Hard uphills, but great downhills. Very tough competition.”

She will compete in a grueling 30-km classic race tomorrow, before returning to the Yukon next week.

Johnston, a coach with Cross-Country Yukon, won four medals last year – including a gold, and two silvers – at the national masters cross-country ski championships hosted in Golden, B.C.

She said the feeling of having a medal draped over your neck followed by the sounds of the Canadian anthem is one that never gets old.

“The medal ceremonies are amazing,” she said. “On stage in a big arena, all decorated in authentic European fashion with traditionally dressed ladies, and pine trees and flowers all around … and an Italian guy to kiss me three times after he put the medal around my neck.

“Truly this is amazing. The people are so gracious … The hotel people treat us like a family and are just waiting for results and cheering us on and having champagne passed around for us.”