While Alex Fiva brings Swiss cheer with bronze, Ryan Regez experiences a black day. After a strong start, the Olympic champion fails in the semi-final - and triggers a fairness debate with an action against the German Tim Hronek.
While Alex Fiva surprised everyone with bronze, the day ended in disappointment for Ryan Regez. "I never said it publicly, but my big goal was to win the Olympics," said the 33-year-old, who triumphed in Beijing. "And when I see what would have been possible today, it really hurts," the man from the Bernese Oberland summed up on SRF with tears in his eyes.
He had impressed in the morning's qualification with the third-best time. He also shone in the competition with strong starts. However, he struggled to build up speed in the semi-final. And when he briefly lost his balance, he slowed down Tim Hronek, who was riding next to him, with an outstretched arm.
"I'm not proud of it," Regez said later. "If I could take it back, I would. It was unsportsmanlike and unfair." He shows himself to be understanding. "It certainly wasn't a good advertisement for the sport because it's just painful to watch."
Hronek wants a rule change
An apology that gave the German little comfort. In an interview with "Eurosport ", Hronek found the action "completely unsportsmanlike." Regez must have thought that if he didn't get through to the final himself, then no one would get through to the final, said Hronek, explaining that the jury had shown the Swiss a yellow card (no participation in the small final), but that didn't help him at all.
Hronek calls for a rule change. "Something should actually be done. For me, it would have been a clear entry into the final," he says in frustration.
"He apologized, but then I also said to him: Ryan, all well and good. But I can't buy anything from that at the end of the day," said Hronek.
Franjo von Allmen relegates the Italians Giovanni Franzoni and Domink Paris to the places of honor and secures Switzerland's first medal with Olympic gold in the downhill.
Image: Keystone
Successful title defense: Freestyler Mathilde Gremaud puts her competitors in their place in slopestyle, as she did in Beijing, and also takes gold in Cortina.
Image: Keystone
In the men's combined team event, the Swiss men strike gold thanks to Tanguy Nef and Franjo von Allmen.
Image: Keystone
But silver also goes to Switzerland in the team combined thanks to Marco Odermatt and Loïc Meillard.
Image: Keystone
Exploit on the normal hill: Gregor Deschwanden surprisingly jumps to bronze and secures Switzerland's fifth Olympic medal.
Image: Keystone
Two Swiss men are also on the podium in the super-G! Franjo von Allmen is crowned triple Olympic champion, Marco Odermatt races to bronze.
Image: Keystone
The Swiss ski stars are unstoppable: Marco Odermatt takes silver in the giant slalom and is once again on the podium with Loïc Meillard, who takes bronze.
Image: Keystone
Two days later, Meillard shines again and celebrates Olympic victory in the slalom and Swiss medal number 10!
Image: Keystone
Cross-country skiing trumps Nadine Fähndrich and Nadja Kälin win the silver medal for Switzerland in the team sprint.
Image: Keystone
In the last Olympic race, the Swiss women's skiers can also celebrate a medal: Camille Rast takes silver in the slalom.
Image: Keystone
The 13th medal for Switzerland! Marianne Fatton is crowned the first female Olympic champion in the ski touring sprint.
Image: Keystone
The Swiss women's ice hockey team beat Sweden in overtime to win bronze - the second Olympic medal in the association's history.
Image: Keystone
Cross-country skier Fanny Smith is only beaten by Germany's Daniela Meier and beams at the award ceremony with the silver medal.
Image: Keystone
Switzerland sets a new Olympic record! Noé Roth flies to aerials silver and wins his 16th medal.
Image: Keystone
The curling men win an Olympic medal! The team around skip Yannick Schwaller gives Norway no chance and secures bronze.
Image: Keystone
Noé Roth, Pirmin Werner and Lina Kozomara win silver for Switzerland in the aerials mixed competition.
Image: Keystone
40-year-old Alex Fiva wins the bronze medal in ski cross.
Image: Keystone
Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler win the silver medal in the ski mountaineering mixed competition.
Image: Keystone
Nadja Kälin pulls off a coup at the end of the Olympic cross-country skiing competitions in Val di Fiemme. She wins bronze in the 50 km classic including mass start.
Image: Keystone
Michael Vogt leads the four-man bobsleigh to bronze - the pushers Andreas Haas, Amadou David Ndiaye and Mario Aeberhard naturally also play their part in the success.
Image: Keystone
The Swiss curlers lose the final against Sweden, but win silver.
Image: Keystone
Franjo von Allmen relegates the Italians Giovanni Franzoni and Domink Paris to the places of honor and secures Switzerland's first medal with Olympic gold in the downhill.
Image: Keystone
Successful title defense: Freestyler Mathilde Gremaud puts her competitors in their place in slopestyle, as she did in Beijing, and also takes gold in Cortina.
Image: Keystone
In the men's combined team event, the Swiss men strike gold thanks to Tanguy Nef and Franjo von Allmen.
Image: Keystone
But silver also goes to Switzerland in the team combined thanks to Marco Odermatt and Loïc Meillard.
Image: Keystone
Exploit on the normal hill: Gregor Deschwanden surprisingly jumps to bronze and secures Switzerland's fifth Olympic medal.
Image: Keystone
Two Swiss men are also on the podium in the super-G! Franjo von Allmen is crowned triple Olympic champion, Marco Odermatt races to bronze.
Image: Keystone
The Swiss ski stars are unstoppable: Marco Odermatt takes silver in the giant slalom and is once again on the podium with Loïc Meillard, who takes bronze.
Image: Keystone
Two days later, Meillard shines again and celebrates Olympic victory in the slalom and Swiss medal number 10!
Image: Keystone
Cross-country skiing trumps Nadine Fähndrich and Nadja Kälin win the silver medal for Switzerland in the team sprint.
Image: Keystone
In the last Olympic race, the Swiss women's skiers can also celebrate a medal: Camille Rast takes silver in the slalom.
Image: Keystone
The 13th medal for Switzerland! Marianne Fatton is crowned the first female Olympic champion in the ski touring sprint.
Image: Keystone
The Swiss women's ice hockey team beat Sweden in overtime to win bronze - the second Olympic medal in the association's history.
Image: Keystone
Cross-country skier Fanny Smith is only beaten by Germany's Daniela Meier and beams at the award ceremony with the silver medal.
Image: Keystone
Switzerland sets a new Olympic record! Noé Roth flies to aerials silver and wins his 16th medal.
Image: Keystone
The curling men win an Olympic medal! The team around skip Yannick Schwaller gives Norway no chance and secures bronze.
Image: Keystone
Noé Roth, Pirmin Werner and Lina Kozomara win silver for Switzerland in the aerials mixed competition.
Image: Keystone
40-year-old Alex Fiva wins the bronze medal in ski cross.
Image: Keystone
Marianne Fatton and Jon Kistler win the silver medal in the ski mountaineering mixed competition.
Image: Keystone
Nadja Kälin pulls off a coup at the end of the Olympic cross-country skiing competitions in Val di Fiemme. She wins bronze in the 50 km classic including mass start.
Image: Keystone
Michael Vogt leads the four-man bobsleigh to bronze - the pushers Andreas Haas, Amadou David Ndiaye and Mario Aeberhard naturally also play their part in the success.
Image: Keystone
The Swiss curlers lose the final against Sweden, but win silver.
Image: Keystone
