Marco Odermatt’s Dominance in Alpine Skiing
In Wengen, Switzerland, Marco Odermatt continues to demonstrate his unparalleled prowess in alpine skiing, solidifying his reputation as a frontrunner in the upcoming Winter Olympics. As expected, Odermatt triumphed in a thrilling downhill race Saturday, marking his fourth victory on the legendary Lauberhorn course. This win places him ahead of skiing legends Franz Klammer and Beat Feuz, both of whom held three career victories on the iconic slope.
Historic Achievements
Klammer’s achievements date back to the 1970s, while Feuz secured his third win as recently as 2020. Notably, Odermatt is now the only skier to have won four times in this setting consecutively, showcasing his dominance on home soil.
Race Highlights
On this occasion, he finished with an impressive lead of 0.79 seconds over Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr and 0.90 seconds ahead of Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni, who had claimed his first career victory the day prior in the super-G event.
Due to strong winds, race organizers were compelled to shorten the course significantly, bringing the focus to the challenging “Kernen S” section, where Odermatt excelled, achieving a speed that surpasses all his competitors on the exit. Other Swiss competitors, Franjo von Allmen and Alexis Money, claimed the fourth and fifth spots, respectively. Von Allmen, the reigning downhill world champion, took some risks during his run, colliding with a television camera but fortunately emerged unscathed after crashing near the finish line.
Dominik Paris from Italy finished sixth, boasting the highest speed of the day at 151.57 kph (94 mph). Coming up next is a weekend of racing at another classic venue in Kitzbuehel, Austria, before the circuit heads towards the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, with men scheduled to compete in Bormio.
Looking Ahead
Odermatt, who already clinched a gold medal in giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, is expected to contend for multiple medals in the forthcoming Games. With this latest victory, he is now poised for his 52nd World Cup win, just two shy of tying Hermann Maier for the third spot on the all-time men’s victory list. As he maintains a commanding lead in the overall standings, he aims for his fifth consecutive overall World Cup title.
Overjoyed with his performance, Odermatt exuberantly celebrated in the finish area, greeted by a sea of Swiss flags waving in support from his devoted fans.
