The 2022/23 season is going perfectly for ski racer Marco Odermatt. At the season finale in Soldeu, the Olympic champion, world champion and giant slalom World Cup winner not only achieved success in his favorite discipline, but also overtook Austria’s ski legend Hermann Maier with a new all-time record result.
On Saturday (3/18/23), Odermatt not only snatched victory in the last giant slalom decision of the season, but also smashed Maier’s record from winter 1999/2000. The Austrian had collected 2,000 points and delivered the best World Cup season ever by a male ski racer. Now he had to let the exceptional Swiss driver pass him. With the 13th success, Odermatt raised the record to 2,042 points.
Perfect performance at the end too
Already in the first run, Odermatt made perfect use of the course set by trainer Johannes Hassler (SUI) and left Frenchman Alexis Pinturault and Norway’s Alexander Steen Olsen well behind.
In the second run, Odermatt left no doubt that he is currently the best giant slalom skier. “It’s crazy what he’s doing,” said ARD expert Felix Nereuther. With a full 2.11 seconds ahead of Kristoffersen, he deservedly clinched the win. Third place went to Austria’s Marco Schwarz.
Odermatt cleans up properly in 2022/23
Even so, Odermatt is not lacking in successes. The Swiss had already secured the small crystal globe for the giant slalom World Cup before the final in Andorra. The ball also belongs to him in the Super G. After winning the Olympic Games in Beijing and the world championship title, he was able to win the overall World Cup for the second time.
Final without German participation
A German driver did not start in the final of the top 25. Alexander Schmid, currently the only hope of the DSV in this discipline, is out for a long time after a cruciate ligament rupture.