Luis Vogt is a skier who falls out of the norm. At more than two meters tall, the 23-year-old is half a head taller than most of his colleagues in the Alpine World Cup. However, the good overview is not an advantage, because when it comes to an aerodynamic position when shooting, he has difficulty “folding” his long body, as he self-ironically notes.
In addition, Vogt wears shoe size 50 in everyday life, which is not available for ski boots. He squeezes himself into ski boots that are size 47, maximum 48. To be more comfortable, he would have to ask for a custom-made one. But Vogt is not a star like Marco Odermatt or Lindsey Vonn, whose wishes are read from their lips. And he is a polite person who doesn’t demand any special treatment.
Unfortunately, the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) and the German Ski Association (DSV) had already unnecessarily announced the German Alpine squad by name. And Vogt wasn’t there, but his giant slalom colleague Anton Grammel was there, even though he had only met “half” the standard up to that point – once in the top 15. Vogt remained sporty, he didn’t want to “take anyone’s place away,” he said in Kitzbühel.
Absurd quota rule and no special permit
The process of allocating starting places for the Olympics is subject to a complicated, not to say absurd, quota rule, which aims to enable as many nations as possible to send a more or less suitable candidate. A total of 153 men’s skiers are registered for the five alpine competitions. Every nation that can present a runner who meets the minimum requirements will receive a quota place. If a driver is in the top 30, he gives his team another place.
This mix results in a colorful field of drivers with 83 participating nations from Albania to Cyprus – with sometimes bizarre effects. Because Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who is competing for his mother’s home country, meets three criteria as a slalom and giant slalom expert, Brazil could send three starters – but is still looking for suitable candidates. On the other hand, proven experts like Victor Muffat-Jeandet have to stay at home because the French competition is larger than the contingent allocated to them.
In the Vogt case, the DOSB and DSV tried to help in a petition to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), requesting special permission for Vogt to at least be able to take part in the training trips in order to be able to step in in the event of an injury to a colleague. But the IOC only allowed him to take part in the final training – which in turn is far too little for a difficult route like Bormio.
This Sunday Luis Vogt will start in the last World Cup downhill before the Olympics in Crans-Montana. He would be rewarded with another top result. Because he deserved it as a dedicated skier. And to underline the absurdity of it all.
