Marco Odermatt is the reigning Olympic GS champion and a favorite in the Milan Cortina Games. He has won four straight overall World Cup titles and holds the season-long globe titles in the giant slalom, super-G and downhill.
What Drives Marco Odermatt?
Marco Odermatt's motivation is simple: winning is still fun. He has grown up with the pressure of competing for a ski-crazed nation like Switzerland and has learned to deal with it.
Ted Ligety, a two-time Olympic champion, describes Odermatt's timing as his "superpower". Ligety explains that timing is so hard to do at varying speeds, but Odermatt does it consistently.
Becoming a Champion
Marco Odermatt was on the slopes at an early age, with his father being a skier and his mother supporting him in every other way. His idol was Swiss great Didier Cuche, a 21-time World Cup winner.
Odermatt won a race as a kid where the prize was to meet and spend a day skiing with Cuche. He then went on to capture four individual gold medals at the 2018 junior world championships in Switzerland.
The Road to Success
Marco Odermatt has become the gold standard on the circuit, with 53 World Cup victories and three world championship crowns. He won the Olympic giant slalom at the 2022 Beijing Games, holding off Zan Kranjec of Slovenia by 0.19 seconds.
Bryce Bennett, an American ski racer, describes Odermatt as a "generational talent" who is "totally dialed in" and consistent. Odermatt's form is so solid, and his line through a course is always so fast, making him the ski racer everyone studies.
What Comes Next?
Marco Odermatt is cruising toward a fifth overall World Cup title, and his biggest motivation is to stay on top. With the Milan Cortina Games approaching, Odermatt is ready to face the pressure and expectations of competing for Switzerland.
On the slopes, Marco Odermatt is a force to be reckoned with, and his name is often compared to that of tennis great Roger Federer. Odermatt's talent and dedication have made him a favorite in the ski racing world, and he continues to dominate the sport with his impressive skills and consistent performance.