Overall World Cup winner, World Cup winner in the giant slalom, Olympic champion in the giant slalom, plus no fewer than seven World Cup victories and a total of 17 podium finishes in a single season - I will probably need some time to come to terms with everything I have achieved this season. This season was packed with so many highlights that it’s hard for me to single out specific moments. The omens for this success were already looking good after pre-season training. My preparation in the summer wasn't affected by any injuries and I made further progress with respect to both conditioning and strength. Winning the first giant slalom at Sölden really got my season off to a flying start. It continued with the races in North America: one win and one second place at Beaver Creek.
In Bormio, on Pista Stelvio, one of the World Cup’s most challenging pistes, I secured my first downhill podium place, a moment that will definitely stick in my mind. This was followed by a veritable cluster of highlights in January. The Alpine Ski World Cup classics were on the agenda. Winning at Chuenisbärgli was a childhood dream come true for me. Switzerland had waited 14 years for this victory, and for me it was even longer as I had been dreaming of it since I was a boy. I had never felt so nervous before a race. I’ll never forget the moment when I crossed the finishing line on my second run and had the fastest time, with the spectators' area finally packed out again after two years dominated by the pandemic. There was a cauldron of noise all around, yet at the same time I felt a huge pressure being lifted off me with the win. This was followed by further highlights such as the super-G win in Wengen and second place finishes in the downhill races on the Lauberhorn and the Streif in Kitzbühel. Finally, there was the Olympic victory in Beijing under the special circumstances brought about by the pandemic — another hard-won highlight after less-than-perfect runs in the first two races. Those who win at the Olympics find themselves in the world's spotlight and will go down in skiing history, so this particular victory will always be a special moment in my career. Following my successes in January, it became increasingly clear that winning the overall World Cup and the little Crystal Globe in the giant slalom were realistic goals. It hasn't been easy to process all the achievements and experiences of the past weeks and months. The wins sparked a huge increase in interest from the media, sometimes to an alarming degree. At Kvitfjell, the first races after the Olympics, I had my worst weekend of the winter, meaning that the pressure was really on at Kranjska Gora. With my sixth and seventh podium places in the giant slalom, the preliminary decision for the overall World Cup went my way. I also secured the little Crystal Globe in giant slalom. Even if these achievements don't trigger the same emotional response now as they do at that moment during the race when I cross the finish line as the winner, they still mean more to me than I can put into words. I consider it a great honour to be the first Swiss national to bring the overall World Cup back to Switzerland after Carlo Janka 14 years ago. To follow in the footsteps of Carlo Janka, Peter Lüscher, Paul Accola and Pirmin Zurbriggen and go down in skiing history as the overall World Cup winner is crazy. Spurred on by this feeling and this confidence, I then went to the World Cup final, where I was denied my first downhill victory by just a few hundredths of a second. One day later I was back on the podium again behind Vincent Kriechmayr after coming second in the super-G. That was enough to give me second place in the final super-G rankings, behind Aleksander Kilde. Going on to win the final giant slalom was the brilliant conclusion to a season that had been outstanding in every respect.
I could never have dreamt of having a season like that. These successes were only made possible thanks to the help and support I received from so many people around me, who all played a crucial role in bringing these achievements to fruition. Even though I can’t possibly name them all, there are a few individuals and companies I would like to mention. Firstly, my equipment supplier Stöckli. I've been using Swiss equipment in the Junior and World Cup competitions for over 14 years now. After this season, “world-class from Central Switzerland” certainly applies to both myself and Stöckli in equal measure. My overall World Cup victory is also a win for the Malters-based Central Swiss SME and all its employees and shows that outstanding performances are the product of passion and commitment and cannot be bought. My Stöckli service team members Chris Lödler and Ivo Zihlmann are the ones who ensure that everything is set up correctly on race day. They have also done amazing work this season. A huge thanks goes to Beni Matti (Head of Racing at Stöckli), Mathieu Fauve (Head of Research and Development at Stöckli), Marc Gläser (CEO Stöckli) and Stefan “Gus” Thöni (ski tester).
Once again, this year's overall World Cup win goes to an athlete wearing the Red Bull helmet. I'd like to thank my main sponsor, Red Bull, and especially Robert Trenkwalder (Global Head of Athletes Special Projects), for placing his trust in me and for his support on a number of levels. A heartfelt thank you goes out to all my sponsors, partners, family and friends. For the past six years, my manager Michael Schiendorfer has taken responsibility for administrative and sponsoring matters, allowing me to focus fully on my performance. A huge thank you goes to him. Even though skiing is an individual sport, it’s also a team effort in many respects. Coaches, support staff and the Swiss Ski association have also done a fantastic job of supporting me this season and have provided me with the best possible sporting conditions during preparation and training. All those moments when my team mates celebrated my successes with me or shared their know-how and expertise will not be forgotten. This is proof of the bond, solidarity and spirit within the team. I am proud to be part of this Swiss team!
Yours, Marco
