COURCHEVEL, France – Marco Odermatt cemented his place among the alpine skiing elite on Friday, mathematically securing his fifth consecutive FIS Alpine Ski World Cup overall title and adding the downhill crystal globe to his impressive collection. The Swiss skier finished third in the downhill race at Courchevel, won by Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr, but the result was enough to guarantee both titles with six races remaining this season.
Kriechmayr clocked a winning time, finishing 0.09 seconds ahead of Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni. Odermatt finished just 0.31 seconds behind Kriechmayr, a performance that, while not a race win, proved decisive in the broader championship standings. This marks Odermatt’s third consecutive downhill crystal globe.
Dominating a Generation
Odermatt’s achievement places him in rarefied air within the sport. With 1,590 points, he holds a commanding 632-point lead over his nearest competitor, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, making the overall title a foregone conclusion. His five consecutive overall titles are rivaled only by Austrian legends Marcel Hirscher (who achieved eight between 2012 and 2019) and Annemarie Möser-Proll (with five between 1971 and 1975). The consistency and dominance displayed by Odermatt are reshaping the landscape of men’s alpine skiing.
This season has been remarkably productive for the 28-year-ancient, with 11 victories and 20 podium finishes to date. While he faced disappointment at the recent Milan Cortina Winter Olympics – securing silver medals in the giant slalom and combined events, and bronze in super-G – his World Cup form has been unparalleled. He previously aimed for victory in the Kitzbühel downhill (finishing second) and the downhill at the Olympics in Bormio (finishing fourth), but the overall and downhill titles provide significant consolation.
Kriechmayr Ends Austrian Drought
While the day belonged to Odermatt in terms of championship accolades, Vincent Kriechmayr’s downhill victory was a significant moment for Austrian skiing. It was Kriechmayr’s tenth World Cup downhill win and his 20th overall. More importantly, it ended a 23-race win drought in downhill for the Austrian Ski Team, his last win coming on March 15, 2023, in Soldeu.
“It’s been complicated, I’ve never been so tired at the finish of a downhill,” Odermatt said in the finish area, acknowledging the challenging course and the effort required to secure his titles.
A Rising Star in Skiing History
With 15 World Cup globes to his name – and the potential to add two more this season in Super-G and Giant Slalom – Odermatt is now the third-most successful male skier of all time. Only Hirscher (20 globes) and Ingemar Stenmark (18 globes) have accumulated more crystal globes throughout their careers. The Swiss skier is rapidly building a legacy that will undoubtedly inspire future generations of alpine racers.
Before Odermatt’s recent success, the last Swiss skier to win the downhill crystal globe was Beat Feuz, who claimed four titles between 2017-2018 and 2020-2021. Odermatt has not only continued that tradition but has elevated it to novel heights.
The FIS Alpine Ski World Cup continues Saturday with the super-G race in Courchevel, scheduled to initiate at 11:00 local time (10:00 UTC). Fans can follow the action on the FIS website and through various broadcast partners worldwide. Odermatt will undoubtedly be a favorite, looking to add another globe to his already overflowing trophy case.
Worth a look
