Marco Odermatt Leads a Swiss 1-2 Downhill Alpine Ski World Cup Podium in Val Gardena

The Swiss team celebrated a remarkable 1-2 victory in the Alpine Ski World Cup Downhill held in Val Gardena. Marco Odermatt secured first place, finishing just 0.15 seconds ahead of Franjo Von Allmen. Dominik Paris completed the podium, finishing 0.19 seconds behind Odermatt. This marks Odermatt's second victory at the Saslong racecourse. Last season, he also won the Downhill event at the South Tyrolean ski resort, with Von Allmen finishing close behind.

The 28-year-old Swiss skier has achieved yet another milestone in his career by celebrating his 50th victory in the Alpine Ski World Cup. With this achievement, he is now tied with Italian skier Alberto Tomba for fourth place in the all-time win record. Only three ski racers have more victories: Hermann Maier with 54 wins, Marcel Hirscher with 67 wins, and Ingemar Stenmark with 86 wins.

Marco Odermatt's victory in Val Gardena marks the 16th consecutive time that at least one Swiss skier has appeared on a World Cup Downhill podium, setting a new record for the nation. However, Switzerland still has a long way to go to match the record of 33 consecutive Downhill podium finishes achieved by Austrian skiers during the 2002-2003 and 2005-2006 winter seasons.

"I saw Franjo’s run and thought, that was a really good run. I don’t even know where I can be much faster. But then I nailed it, and it was enough for a few hundredths of a second. Getting through the Ciaslat section well is always important. The 50 World Cup wins don’t really mean much right now," Odermatt said.

The 24-year-old Swiss Franjo Von Allmen claimed his 9th Alpine Ski World Cup podium, the 6th in the Downhill.

"My goal was to have a good run without mistakes, to show my skiing. That feels good. There weren't really any doubts. I need a little time at the beginning of the season to get going. Now I'm looking forward to everything the season brings," Von Allmen said.

For veteran Paris, today marks his 51st podium finish, with 33 of those coming in the Downhill event.

"My sensation was not so nice, but it was a good run, it was really fast, and I tried to push and stay on the line, keep good speed. I had a little mistake, but I am happy," Paris said.

On January 13, 1967, the first Downhill race in Alpine Ski World Cup history took place in Grindelwald. Canadian Nancy Greene won it. Almost 59 years later, on December 18, 2025, Marco Odermatt won the 1,000th Downhill.