Niels Hintermann cannot fulfill his Olympic dream. The man from Zurich accepts the decision and apologizes for his outburst the day before.
05.02.2026, 15:23
05.02.2026, 15:55
SDA
When Hintermann steps in front of the microphones after training in Bormio, no official decision has yet been made. Nevertheless, it is clear to the 30-year-old that he will miss the Olympic downhill on Saturday. In training, he is slower than Stefan Rogentin up to the measuring point at the San Pietro jump. When asked whether he still has hope, Hintermann replies: "Rogi skied world class today. There's not much more to say."
He thus misses out on the crowning glory of his comeback season. Hintermann had missed the entire 2024/25 season because he was diagnosed with lymphoma. Thanks to early detection and immediate treatment, he was able to announce almost a year ago that he was cancer-free again and back on the skis.
Hintermann: "Stupid move on my part"
This winter, he managed to do just that. With 6th place in Wengen and 7th in Val Gardena/Gröden, he established himself as the fourth best Swiss downhill skier and was selected for the Olympics. But now Rogentin, who has collected 66 points fewer than Hintermann in the Downhill World Cup, will be at the start on Saturday.
Unlike the day before, Hintermann was now trying to be conciliatory. On Wednesday, he had been upset that Alexis Monney had been given a fixed place at short notice despite not finishing on the downhill podium this season. The decision was "not in the spirit of the sport", said Hintermann.
"That was a stupid move on my part," he says looking back. He had already apologized on social media on Wednesday evening - also after noticing that two camps had formed in the comment columns. "That was never my intention," emphasizes Hintermann, adding: "Sport should unite, not divide."
Letting emotions guide you too much
He is not a machine and normally says what he thinks freely. On Wednesday, however, he let his emotions get the better of him. After a restless night's sleep, his anger made him feel blocked during the first training session. That was the straw that broke the camel's back and the frustration had to come out. He later spoke to his wife and his sports hypnotist, which grounded him again. "I immediately apologized to the coaches and to Alexis."
It was important for Hintermann to emphasize that he wholeheartedly granted Monney and Rogentin a start in the Olympic downhill. For their part, the two riders declared that they would not hold a grudge against him. A conciliatory ending.
