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Down-to-earth and with Roger Federer as a role model: After a mammoth program, Marco Odermatt recharged the batteries for the Stelvio in his home country.
Marco Odermatt had just two World Cup descents in his legs when he threw himself down the notorious Stelvio in Bormio in 2018. The then 21-year-old just didn’t score enough points with rank 31, which he made up about a month later on the even more merciless Streif in Kitzbühel. Four years later, Odermatt, beaten only by Dominik Paris in second place last year, is once again preparing to tame the steep, winding route on the Stelvio Pass.
A lot has happened since its premiere in Bormio: the man from Nidwalden is the reigning overall World Cup winner, has an Olympic gold medal and has won 15 races at the highest level. And despite all the success, one thing has remained pretty much the same, as perhaps the most talented ski racer of his generation emphasizes: Marco Odermatt as a person. Observers admire his down-to-earth attitude and his easy-going nature. Odermatt himself sees it pragmatically: “Being authentic uses the least energy.”
Saving energy in particular was the big issue for the 25-year-old recently. From the start of the season in Sölden – which ended like the last race so far: with a giant slalom triumph for Odermatt – to the “giant” double in Alta Badia, “Odi” completed 10 races in less than two months, in addition to numerous training runs. With resounding success: Except for the 2nd descent from Gröden (7th place), he always finished on the podium.
In any case, the battery was fully recharged during the 9-day almost luxuriously long break from racing over Christmas for ski racers. The recipe for this is as simple as it is effective: “I don’t need much. Just get away from this environment, go home. You don’t have to think about anything, don’t set an alarm clock.” He hardly did anything. The fact that the less wintry weather didn’t lure him out of the house was definitely helpful.
Being able to flip the switch between athlete and private person so smoothly is another of his strengths. Although the boundaries are definitely blurred and thanks to his merits as an athlete he sometimes gets to exclusive locations. For example to London, where he was able to follow Roger Federer’s dernière live at the Laver Cup at the end of September. He raves about his role model: “The perfect athlete and person from A to Z.”
In England’s capital, Odermatt witnessed the last professional moments of a sports icon who, despite all the successes, was always recognized for her down-to-earthness and relaxed attitude. Attributes that are also extremely familiar in connection with the Buochser.