Marco Odermatt talks about the highs and lows of the past season at the headquarters of his outfitter Stöckli.
10.04.2026, 15:42
10.04.2026, 15:56
SDA
The man from Nidwalden also reveals why he didn't feel like racing in Kvitfjell for the first time in his life.
Marco Odermatt, with a little distance to the last race of the winter: How would you sum up the season?
"A very positive one. I took nine victories, including in Adelboden, Wengen and Kitzbühel. I also won three crystal globes and three medals at the Olympic Games."
What was your highlight of the past season?
(ponders for a long time) "I would say Adelboden. I've dreamed of winning there since I was a little boy. Now I'm the record winner on the Chuenisbärgli with five victories. That's pretty cool. But the downhill in Garmisch is also one of the highlights. To be able to deliver again straight after the Olympics and win one of the legendary downhill races was also incredibly cool. The fact that Alexis (Monney) and Rogi (Stefan Rogentin) were two other Swiss athletes on the podium made the moment all the more special."
And what was the most difficult moment of the winter?
"The downhill in Kitzbühel. It was the saddest 2nd place in my career. I never made a secret of the fact that winning on the Streif was my big goal this season. Everyone said after the race: 'Yes, you still have time'. Standing at the start in Kitzbühel with a perfect feeling and knowing that everything is possible, the material is right, the weather is right, I feel good and confident to attack the downhill 100 percent - you don't have situations like that 100 times in your life."
How do you keep your hunger despite all your successes?
"That's the big challenge. It's not equally easy to honestly feel the hunger in every race. You tell yourself at the start that you want to win the race. But when I think back to Kvitfjell this year, I was on the course for the first time in my life and thought: 'I don't want to do the race today'. The sky was overcast, the snow soft. You run back a gate for the 20th time at the inspection, sweat running down your face... At the start you push yourself and then motivate yourself just like any other race. But it might not be the most honest will."
Was this the main reason for your "poor" performance at the season finale?
"I'm not saying it was the only reason why the race there went down the pan. But it was one of them. The races at the season finale, as bad as they went, also have positive aspects. They show everyone else, including me, that nothing can be taken for granted. Everything always has to come together for me to finish at the top."
As an all-rounder with three disciplines, you have an enormous workload. You have already emphasized several times that you won't be focusing even more on speed in the coming season, but in the near future. Is it possible that you will skip a giant slalom or two next winter?
"The plan is for me to ski everything. I might skip a giant slalom if I have to. I have to listen to myself and my body. Sometimes you run the risk of just functioning, just reeling off the program and not enjoying it at all."
Next winter is all about the home World Championships in Crans-Montana. How are you looking ahead to this highlight?
"Of course I want to win gold medals there. Winning medals is nice, but if I'm healthy, I want to go there and become world champion. The fact that I'm already world champion in all disciplines gives me a certain sense of ease."
You will lay the foundations for further success in the summer. Will you put your feet up before then?
"I'm at home for a few more days now, I have a few appointments before I go on vacation for two weeks."
