'Perfect day' as Odermatt wins fifth straight World Cup ski title / Photo: Olivier CHASSIGNOLE - AFP
'Perfect day' as Odermatt wins fifth straight World Cup ski title
Swiss skier Marco Odermatt sealed his fifth successive overall World Cup title on Friday with a third-placed finish in the downhill won by Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr.
Odermatt, who failed to win a gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics last month, picked up 60 points for his podium finish to take an unassailable 632-point lead over Brazilian Lucas Pinheiro Braathen with only six races left in the season.
Odermatt becomes just the third person in alpine ski history to win five overall titles in a row, after Austrians Marcel Hirscher (eight times between 2012-19) and Annemarie Moser-Proll (five times between 1971-75).
The 28-year-old, who won two Olympic silvers and bronze in Bormio, also claimed the World Cup downhill title with his third-placed finish in the French resort.
"It was a very difficult, very tough race. I don't think I've ever been that tired at the finish. Tough conditions," said Odermatt.
"I'm very happy with my race, with another consistent race, for the globe as well. Perfect day.
"For me, the downhill globe became probably the most important thing in my career now.
"To win this the third time in a row and also with a big gap, I guess this makes it even more special to be so consistent in every race, every condition."
Odermatt added: "Having the will to fight for the top spots every weekend, every race, this makes me a little bit proud."
Odermatt's teammate Franjo von Allmen, who failed to finish the Eclipse course in Courchevel, finished second in the downhill standings, 235pts off the pace.
Von Allmen became the first male skier since Toni Sailer (1956) and Jean-Claude Killy (1968) to win three Olympic golds at a single Winter Games when he powered to victories in the downhill and super-G in Bormio, also combining with Tanguy Nef to win the team combined.
W.Subaie--al-Hayat
