Marco Odermatt starts the 2026–27 alpine skiing world cup season with 54 career victories and five consecutive overall crystal globes, trailing Vreni Schneider’s Swiss record of 55 wins by just a single triumph. The 29-year-old Nidwalden native takes aim at that milestone during Sunday’s giant slalom in Sölden, Austria, which marks his 200th start on the highest level.
Defending the Overall Crown Amid Early Season Friction
Odermatt enters the winter campaign as the clear benchmark in men’s alpine racing, having dominated the overall standings by an average of more than 640 points over his nearest challengers during his five-year title run. Sölden serves as the traditional curtain-raiser on the Rettenbach glacier, where Odermatt won three of the last four editions despite skiing out during the first run of the 2024 event after holding a commanding split time. In the previous World Cup campaign, he collected 568 more points than runner-up Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, though the Norwegian skier competing for Brazil managed to wrest the small giant slalom globe away at the final opportunity in Hafjell after also topping Odermatt at the Olympic Winter Games.
Overcoming August Muscle Strain Ahead of Sölden
Preparation for the milestone weekend in the Ötztal valley did not follow Odermatt’s usual blueprint after he sustained a minor muscle injury in late August. The setback forced him to delay his departure to a training camp in Chile and limited his output in gym sessions. Describing the timing as inconvenient rather than catastrophic, Odermatt noted that the issue could easily have been a severe spinal disc herniation or a major knee ligament tear. With 102 podium finishes from 199 prior appearances, he insisted he has nothing left to prove to anyone. While observers weighed the physical toll of a packed calendar, Blick noted that Odermatt weighed in between 89 and 90 kilograms as he prepares for speed events in North America later in the autumn. He also recounted a chance encounter with freestyle skier Eileen Gu at the Monaco Grand Prix, where the American-raised competitor did not recognize him as an alpine racer.
Odermatt Nears Vreni Schneider's Swiss Victory Record
Sunday’s giant slalom puts Odermatt on the cusp of matching Vreni Schneider’s all-time Swiss record of 55 World Cup victories, a mark that has stood as the gold standard for the nation’s skiers. Among male racers, Odermatt shares his current victory tally of 54 with retired Austrian legend Hermann Maier, trailing only Marcel Hirscher with 67 and all-time leader Ingemar Stenmark with 86. Speaking to Eurosport, Maier praised the reigning champion’s relentless drive and willingness to push the limits on tricky Super-G turns. SRF reported that Sunday’s racing on the Rettenbach glacier begins with the first run at 09:45 local time, followed by the decisive second run at 12:45 local time. Odermatt indicated that the current winter could be his final season contesting the full triple-discipline program of downhill, Super-G, and giant slalom before shifting his competitive priorities toward pure speed events in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions About Odermatt’s Milestone Weekend
Sunday’s giant slalom on the Rettenbach glacier in Sölden marks Odermatt’s 200th career start on the top-tier circuit.
What records is Odermatt chasing in Sölden? With 54 career victories, Odermatt needs one more win to tie Vreni Schneider’s Swiss record of 55 triumphs and could also pull ahead of Hermann Maier on the men’s all-time list.
How did an injury affect Odermatt’s preparation? Odermatt suffered a minor muscle strain in late August that delayed his travel to the team’s training camp in Chile and restricted his weight training, though he noted the issue is fully healed.
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MARCOOO ODERMATTTT!!! 🇨🇭💥Wow! Third win in Soelden and 46th World Cup victory! 🏆🔥What a way to start the season! ❄️🥈 Marco Schwarz 🇦🇹 (+0.24)🥉 Atle Lie McGrath 🇳🇴 (+0.27)#FISAlpine #WorldCupSoelden pic.twitter.com/95YByfpttl
