Marco Odermatt wins the giant slalom in Santa Catarina with a lead of 73 hundredths of a second, establishing his dominance in the World Cup discipline.
Well, what can we say? Where do we start? Your performance was outstanding, Marco. We’re thrilled for you!
Marco Odermatt: Yes, I’m a bit lost for words too. All I can say is that I’m over the moon and thankful.
Thankful?
Marco Odermatt: Many people work extremely hard behind the scenes to make it possible for me to perform at this level and achieve results like this. On the race day itself, I’m mainly referring to my trainers, service staff and the entire support team, but my teammates, sponsorship partners and fans are also a vital piece of the puzzle. They really lift me up and are an important part of my success.
You were the frontrunner in the World Cup giant slalom classification for the first time...
Marco Odermatt … and I was leading after the first run for the first time too…
… and, of course, not forgetting the fact that you took the top spot at the end of a World Cup giant slalom for the first time. This is a testament to your mental strength. Weren’t you a bit nervous up there at the start?
Marco Odermatt: You need to feel a certain amount of tension at the starting gate in order to tap into your true potential. But nervous in the true sense of the word? No. I just try to focus on the run and that’s working out really well for me right now.
Did your good start to the season in Sölden help at all?
Marco Odermatt: Absolutely. I knew I was in peak form, but once you've stood on the podium, it gives you an added sense of security. This is particularly important when things aren’t going so well. A good result in the season classification stops you from beginning to doubt yourself and your environment. When those doubts start to creep in, it’s really hard to get yourself back on track.
Surely you don’t have that problem right now, with three podium finishes in three races. Quite the opposite – more and more people are tipping you to become Marcel Hirscher’s successor…
Marco Odermatt: Needless to say, I’ve got nothing against journalists and fans making comparisons like this because I know it’s meant as a compliment. But let's hope this thought doesn’t cross my mind quite so quickly. I’ve only just won my first two World Cup races, so putting myself on a par with Marcel would be a little presumptuous. That would mean I’ve changed in a way that just isn’t me. I’m still at the beginning of my journey as a top athlete.
Isn’t that a little too modest?
Marco Odermatt: I’m very aware of my capabilities. I know I can take a place on the podium if I have two good runs, but the times when things are going well are exactly the times when you need to maintain some humility and keep your feet firmly planted on the ground. Marcel, who I got to know a bit in the two years before he retired, is a role model to me. We athletes all have a reason to be modest. It's an absolute privilege to have the opportunity to play your favourite sport as a job, and that's something I’ll never lose sight of.
The Swiss giant slalom team – just like the slalom team – hasn’t been this strong in some years. The last World Cup victory by Carlo Janka was almost ten years ago now... What do you put this impressive team performance down to?
Marco Odermatt: We’re lucky enough to have some exceptionally talented skiers – both male and female, we mustn't forget. But I can’t imagine that, in the ten years since our last triumph, the Swiss ski team would’ve been made up of any less talented skiers. We skiers must instead acknowledge with gratitude that the sporting nation of Switzerland is doing a lot better now than it did a few years ago. I’m mainly thinking about the opportunities made available to us by sports academies and military training schools for top athletes. And the willingness of sponsors to support young talents and give them the necessary time to progress has also increased. And, if some of these youngsters can then join forces and focus on the sport, the level of training will also improve.
Many people noticed how happy you were about Gino Caviezel’s podium finish in Sölden…
Marco Odermatt: Gino is a good mate and I was truly delighted for him achieving this victory, which he’s had to wait so long for. Getting your first podium position is a momentous occasion. It lights a fire inside you and I’ve got no doubt that Gino will go on to achieve more outstanding results.
To conclude, I’ve got to ask – has winning the World Cup now become your target for each season?
Marco Odermatt: The best football coaches always say that they take it one game at a time. And that’s something that rings even truer for us. Of course I’d be thrilled to place well in the World Cup, but pondering and making predictions about the final ranking doesn’t get you anywhere. The elite group is so broad in all disciplines that tactical races are out of the question. I always have to give my all in every race and every run. Nowadays, you can't win anything if you’re working at 80 percent effort. And rightly so.
Then we look forward to your upcoming races!
