Marco Odermatt Wins Gold in Men’s Super-G at Worlds in Austria
Swiss Ski Star Dominates the Course
Marco Odermatt, the big pre-race favorite, won gold in the men’s super-G at the Alpine skiing world championships on Friday. The lauded Swiss standout beat silver medalist Raphael Haaser by one second, with Haaser earning the host nation’s second medal, a day after Stephanie Venier won the women’s super-G.
Perfect Run and Celebrations
Odermatt had a flawless run down the sunbathed Schneekristall course, pointing his finger up to the sky and starting to celebrate almost as soon as he reached the finish area. He pounded his chest several times and let out a scream as the pro-Austrian crowd reacted with awe and admiration.
Odermatt’s Reaction
“There are not many days or races as perfect as this one. You cannot race better, at least I can’t,” Odermatt said. “I had the best feeling from the third gate. I felt my skis were perfect, did exactly what I wanted, and this gives you in a difficult super-G the confidence to ski your line, to attack, to search the limit, and not go over the limit.”
First Super-G Medal for Odermatt
It’s the first super-G medal from a major event for Odermatt, the three-time overall World Cup champion who is the Olympic giant slalom champion. He won the downhill and GS titles at the worlds two years ago. “It’s extremely nice to be world champion in super-G as well, it’s incredible,” Odermatt said.
World Cup Leader and First Swiss World Champion in Super-G Since 2009
Odermatt is the runaway leader in the World Cup super-G standings and the only racer with multiple wins in the discipline this season, most recently in Kitzbuehel. He became the first Swiss world champion in super-G since Didier Cuche won the title in 2009.
Other Notable Performances
Vincent Kriechmayr, the 2021 world champion in both super-G and downhill, placed fourth and missed a medal by five-hundredths of a second in his first race since injuring his knee in a crash in the Jan. 18 downhill in Wengen. Ryan Cochran-Siegle was the best American finisher, sharing seventh place with Italian veteran Dominik Paris. Canadian speed specialist James Crawford finished 3.41 seconds off the lead.
Injuries and Absences
The field missed several more standout racers because of injuries, most notably former overall World Cup champions Aleksander Aamodt Kilde and Alexis Pinturault as well as speed specialist Cyprien Sarrazin. Alexander Cameron, a Canadian speed specialist, didn’t start, a day after hurting his knee in a downhill training crash. He was still expected to start in Sunday’s downhill, where he won bronze at the worlds two years ago.
Conclusion
Marco Odermatt’s dominant performance in the men’s super-G at the Alpine skiing world championships has cemented his status as one of the top skiers in the world. His win marks the first super-G medal from a major event for Odermatt, and he becomes the first Swiss world champion in super-G since 2009.
FAQs
Q: Who won the men’s super-G at the Alpine skiing world championships?
A: Marco Odermatt won gold in the men’s super-G.
Q: Who finished second and third?
A: Raphael Haaser finished second, and Adrian Smiseth Sejersted finished third.
Q: Who is the runaway leader in the World Cup super-G standings?
A: Marco Odermatt is the runaway leader in the World Cup super-G standings.
Q: Who missed the podium by five-hundredths of a second?
A: Vincent Kriechmayr missed a medal by five-hundredths of a second.
