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Ski dominator Marco Odermatt made a big appearance in “Sportpanorama” three weeks after the season finale.
“This is the last compulsory event of the season, after which I can let myself go and enjoy the time,” said a relaxed Odermatt in the SRF studio. The 26-year-old from Nidwalden is still reminiscing and has not yet forgotten the last World Cup winter.
Missed record ticked off…
But he has come to terms with the fact that his winning streak in the giant slalom was broken after 12 wins in a row across seasons. “Of course I was annoyed at that moment, I really wanted to achieve that,” said Odermatt, alluding to Ingemar Stenmark’s record (14 giant slalom victories in a row), which has once again become a distant memory.
He is at least equal to Hermann Maier, and even better in some areas, such as strength.
But with some distance, the positive outweighs the negatives. The third victory in the overall World Cup in a row, winning the small ball in the giant slalom and in the downhill for the first time lead him to conclude: “It was a very special season, there were only highlights.”
… Zurbriggen soon caught up
He knows very well how fast-paced skiing can be. Surprise guest Marco Kohler, who tore his cruciate ligament on the Lauberhorn, is one of his best friends. “It could have been a perfect day after winning my first downhill,” says Odermatt, looking back on his victory in Wengen.
And when Pirmin Zurbriggen enters the studio, questions about the future are discussed. The most successful Swiss skier to date once retired at the age of 27. Odermatt reaches this age on October 8th. Nevertheless, no one doubts that the current high-flyer will soon surpass the mark of 40 World Cup victories and the 4 victories in the overall ranking of the Valaisan (Odermatt has 37 World Cup victories and 3 large crystal balls).
Because times have changed, says Zurbriggen. “I was burnt out because I didn’t have enough rest and the experience you have today,” said the 61-year-old.
Conditioning coach mission accomplished
Odermatt will break new ground next season, especially in the fitness area. After 7 years, the mission for his trainer Kurt Kothbauer was over. «In my opinion he is perfect, I can’t help him anymore. His potential has been exhausted, at least what I can do,” said the Austrian.
“He was ten years lighter than he is today. I knew back then that it could be really big. You only have someone like that once in your life,” remembers Kothbauer and enthuses: “He is at least equal to Hermann Maier, and in some areas even better, such as in the strength area.”
Gut-Behrami’s ex-coach will soon take over
For Odermatt, the fact that Kothbauer is quitting is “brutal and beautiful” at the same time, because it shows that he only means well towards him. In the future, Alejo Hervas, Lara Gut-Behrami’s ex-coach, will be responsible for the Swiss-Ski men. This personality is extremely important because the athletes’ days are extremely long. Odermatt will now be able to recover for 2-3 weeks: “After that I’ll sit together with Alejo for the first time, I hope it won’t be too tough.”