Marco Odermatt: “Writing the history of Swiss sport is like a dream”

The Swiss speed team once again delivered a top performance on Saturday during the descent of the Lauberhorn. With the victory of Marco Odermatt ahead of Franjo von Allmen, she achieved her fourth double in a row in the premier discipline. “It’s incredible, I can’t find the words,” Nidwaliden admitted to the media.

But where will they stop? Saturday in Wengen, Marco Odermatt and Franjo von Allmen gave Switzerland a fourth double in as many descents this winter. The Bernese resort has also never seen two Swiss skiers occupy the two highest ranks. A historic feat that the two heroes of the day were still struggling to achieve.

“Writing the history of Swiss sport is like a dream for me,” the Nidwalden champion gushed to the French-speaking press. “It’s difficult to explain what I feel,” replied the new nugget from the Oberland, who had an extraordinary weekend in his homeland, having already won his first victory in World Cup during the super-G on Saturday.

The feats of “Odi” and “FvA” also aroused the admiration of their teammates. “I think we really don’t realize it. The level that is in this Swiss team on these first four descents is crazy,” said Arnaud Boisset, 36th for his first descent since his terrible fall at Beaver Creek at the beginning of December.

Find below the reaction of the Swiss downhillers, who – once again – posted a solid overall performance with the 7th, 8th and 12th places of Justin Murisier, Lars Rösti and Stefan Rogentin.

“It’s incredible, I can’t find the words. The Swiss team is currently the best team in the world. It’s very cool to write the history of Swiss sport, it’s like a dream for me. With this team, all Swiss skiing and all these fans, it’s very beautiful. I absolutely wanted to win. It was very important for me to react after my 7th place in super-G. Franjo is magnificent. He is very young, but what he is doing at his age in downhill, that is to say finishing second in Val Gardena, in Bormio and here as well as winning yesterday in super-G, is extraordinary. Franjo is also the ideal colleague to go party tonight!”

“It’s hard to explain how I feel. There was already a lot of emotion yesterday after winning my first race, especially at home. We had to manage all of this. And today, it’s another big result. In the next few days I will achieve what I managed to do. It’s great to achieve the double with Marco. He is a superb driving force for the team. He shows us all that it is possible. We, the young athletes, can take advantage of this to perform well. There is a great team spirit! It’s complicated to say if we’re making history, it’s only my second season in the World Cup. But I try to enjoy the present moment.

“It’s a mixed feeling, I had the means to do better. In the Brüggli-S and the final S there was the possibility of being better. I didn’t ski at my best in these places, but the rest of the race was good. It was difficult to concentrate at the start with the interruption (editor’s note: after the fall of Vincent Kriechmayr). Already last year, I set off after Alexis Pinturault’s fall… You lose a lot of energy in those moments. You get the adrenaline pumping and then you have to come down. But that’s no excuse.”

“I’m happy for Marco and Franjo, but I’m not going to take a monster with them (laughs). I don’t make money when it’s my colleagues on the podium. I’m the one who has to win. But it’s clear that I prefer to see my teammates on the podium than anyone else, especially when they are very nice guys like them. I really respect them.”

“This weekend is very positive for me, I saw some great things. I got back into the rhythm. It was not easy to restart on a World Cup track. I tested myself on a long super-G, on a long descent, with long jumps and burning legs. It was a successful full-scale test. It’s a relief because I realize that, even if I don’t feel 200% yet, I’m not that far from the best. It’s very positive.”

“It’s inspiring to be alongside Marco every day. He shares a lot, unlike former great Swiss champions who did their own thing a bit in their own corner. He is always very happy for us, it’s very positive. When we see what he is doing today, I really have no words. I think we don’t really realize it. The level in the Swiss team over these first four descents is crazy. But on the other hand, we remain a team of kids. We are young and we have a lot of fun, the atmosphere is very relaxed.”

“After my little scare, everything is fine. I got on at the penultimate gate. I took a small hole at the previous turn and it shifted me. I then arrived too straight into the last corner. Despite everything, I managed a solid performance considering the conditions I had. Above all, I am very happy for the team. Four doubles in a row, I think that’s never happened before! We were eagerly awaited here, and to be able to do a race like this is a pleasure.”