Swiss Skier Marco Odermatt Makes History With 4th Wengen Win
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt just became the winningest downhill skier ever at his home race in Wengen, claiming his fourth consecutive victory on the legendary Lauberhorn course. The 27-year-old's dominant performance has him positioned as the favorite heading into next month's Winter Olympics.
Marco Odermatt stood in the finish area Saturday, screaming with delight as thousands of Swiss flags waved around him. He had just made history on his home mountain.
The Swiss skiing star crushed the competition at Wengen's downhill race, winning by nearly a full second. More importantly, he broke a decades-old record by claiming his fourth career victory on the famed Lauberhorn course.
Odermatt now stands alone atop the Wengen record books. He surpassed Austrian legend Franz Klammer, who won three times in the 1970s, and fellow Swiss skier Beat Feuz, who earned his third win in 2020.
What makes the achievement even more remarkable? All four of Odermatt's victories came in consecutive years, from 2023 through 2026.
"From the very first gate I was so ready to push," Odermatt said after the race. Including a super-G win in 2022, he now has five total victories in Wengen, plus four other podium finishes.
Strong winds forced organizers to drastically shorten Saturday's course. That made the narrow, technical "Kernen S" section the deciding factor in the race.
Odermatt mastered it perfectly. He carried more speed through the tricky turns than anyone else, finishing 0.79 seconds ahead of Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr and 0.90 seconds ahead of Italy's Giovanni Franzoni.
"Where I lost the race yesterday I won it today," Odermatt said, referencing his fourth-place finish in Friday's super-G. "If you don't take the risk you cannot win races at this level."
The victory was Odermatt's 52nd World Cup win overall. That puts him just two victories away from matching Austrian great Hermann Maier for third place on the all-time men's list.
Why This Inspires
Odermatt's success shows what happens when talent meets relentless dedication. He's chasing his fifth consecutive overall World Cup title and holds a massive lead in this season's standings.
The Beijing 2022 Olympic gold medalist in giant slalom will head to the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics next month as a favorite for multiple medals. His hometown crowd certainly believes in him.
At 27, Odermatt is rewriting the record books while inspiring a new generation of Swiss skiers who watched him dominate their country's most prestigious race four years running.
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Based on reporting by Japan Today
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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