Elezi Cannaferina Shocks Schladming | Pinturault’s Olympic Future?

A great performance at the best of times. The young Frenchman Alban Elezi Cannaferina (22 years old) took third place this Tuesday evening in the giant slalom of Schladming won by the Swiss Loïc Meillard, thus undoubtedly validating his participation in the Milan-Cortina Olympic Games.

Eighth in the first round, the 22-year-old skier from Courchevel completed a second dream act to reach the first podium of his career behind Meillard and the Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen during this last giant before the Olympics (February 6-22). “It’s incredible for me, it’s such an experience to make my first podium here in Schladming, I hope I will be at the Games”reacted the Frenchman.

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It’s a real masterstroke achieved by Elezi Cannaferina on the day it was needed. The French camp had learned the evening before that it was recovering an additional quota for the Olympics, giving hope to several of them initially excluded, including Alexis Pinturault, the greatest winner in French skiing.

Pinturault and Favrot miss each other

But, while they were expected at the turn, Pinturault (26th) and Thibaut Favrot (out in the first round) got through, just like Léo Anguenot (23rd), already qualified for the Olympics thanks to his 3rd place in Adelboden. But Elezi Cannaferina responded and even a little more to invite himself with a bang into the discussion for the last French quota, or even close the debate altogether.

The decision will be made on Wednesday evening after the Schladming slalom which could still reshuffle the cards in the event of a strong performance but the giant’s junior world champion in 2023 set the bar very high on Tuesday. If Meillard, impressive, beat him by 90/100 (Braathen finished 73/100 behind the Swiss), the young Frenchman managed an almost perfect round, even having the luxury of beating the best skier in the world, Marco Odermatt, fourth.