Joan Verdú (alpine skier)

Joan Verdú
Verdú in 2023
Personal information
Full nameJoan Verdú Sánchez
Born (1995-05-23) 23 May 1995 (age 30)
OccupationAlpine skier
Sport
Country Andorra
Skiing career
DisciplinesGiant slalom
World Cup debut23 October 2016 (age 21)
Olympics
Teams4 – (20142026)
Medals0
World Championships
Teams5 – (2013, 2017, 20212025)
Medals0
World Cup
Seasons8 – (20172019, 20222026)
Wins0
Podiums2 – (2 GS)
Overall titles0 – (39th in 2024)
Discipline titles0 – (10th in GS, 2024)
Medal record
Alpine skiing
Representing  Andorra
World Cup race podiums
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
Giant slalom 0 1 1
Total 0 1 1
Winter Youth Olympic Games
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Innsbruck Super-G

Joan Verdú Sánchez[a] (born 23 May 1995)[1] is an Andorran World Cup alpine ski racer who specializes in the technical events of slalom, giant slalom and super-G. He made his ski racing debut in 2010.

On 22 January 2012, Verdú finished third at the French national championships. Later that season, he finished third for boys' super-G at 2012 Winter Youth Olympics. He represented Andorra at the 2014,[2][3] 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics.

On 9 December 2023, Verdú became the first Andorran ski racer to achieve a World Cup podium. He finished third on the giant slalom in Val-d'Isère, France.[4]

On 16 March 2024, he secured his second World Cup podium, finishing second in the giant slalom at the World Cup Finals in Saalbach, Austria.

Personal life

Since August 2022, Verdú is also a YouTube content creator, with a weekly vlog about his performances on the alpine skiing circuit.

He speaks Catalan, Spanish and English fluently.

Since 2025, he has been in a relationship with Spanish influencer Laura Escanes.[5]

World Cup results

Season standings

Season
Age Overall Slalom Giant
slalom
Super-G Downhill Parallel
2022 26 126 42
2023 27 68 19 N/a
2024 28 39 10
2025 29 55 18
2026 30 80 24
Standings through 1 February 2026

Race podiums

  • 0 wins
  • 2 podiums – (2 GS)
Season
Date Location Discipline Place
2024 9 December 2023 France Val-d'Isère, France Giant slalom 3rd
16 March 2024 Austria Saalbach, Austria Giant slalom 2nd

World Championship results

Year
Age Slalom Giant
slalom
Super-G Downhill Combined Team
combined
Parallel Team
 event 
2013 17 39 N/a N/a
2017 21 DNSQ1 DNS2 DNF1 27
2021 25 DNF1 26
2023 30 DNF1 DNF2
2025 32 DNF2 N/a N/a

Olympic results

Year
Age Slalom Giant
slalom
Super-G Downhill Combined Team
combined
Team event
2014 18 DNF1 N/a N/a
2018 22 DNF2 28 37 27
2022 26 9 22
2026 30 10 N/a N/a

Notes

  1. ^ In this Catalan name, the first or paternal surname is Verdú and the second or maternal family name is Sánchez; both are generally joined by the conjunction "i".

References

  1. ^ "FIS bio". Data.fis-ski.com. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  2. ^ "Sochi 2014 site". M.sochi2014.com. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  3. ^ Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Joan Verdú". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on 4 December 2016. Full name: Joan Verdú Sánchez
  4. ^ "Swiss star Odermatt wins World Cup giant slalom at Val d'Isere in French Alps". CBC. AP. 9 December 2023. Retrieved 11 March 2022. Joan Verdu, getting a best-ever World Cup result for the tiny principality of Andorra, was third trailing Odermatt by 1.32 seconds.
  5. ^ "Joan Verdú, la nueva pareja de Laura Escanes... y exprofesor de Risto Mejide". Infobae (in Spanish). 22 February 2025. Retrieved 12 January 2026.