Three Things to Watch in Men’s Olympic Downhill

AFP/APP

Bormio:  Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt goes into Saturday’s men’s Olympic downhill in Bormio as the clear favourite, but the reigning world super-G champion is expected to face a stiff challenge from both his Swiss teammates and a strong Italian contingent.

Odermatt, 28, will compete on the demanding Stelvio course aiming to add downhill gold to the giant slalom title he won at the Beijing Olympics four years ago. While he insisted he would feel little pressure, the Swiss star acknowledged that success in downhill represents the pinnacle of alpine skiing.

“I’d obviously prefer to take the downhill because it’s still the king’s discipline,” Odermatt said. “If I show my good skiing, I know I can win some medals.”

Leading the internal Swiss challenge is Franjo von Allmen, the reigning world downhill champion, who claimed gold at last season’s world championships in Saalbach. The 24-year-old has already won two World Cup downhill races this season, compared with Odermatt’s three victories.

“Marco shows what’s possible and for me he’s a big inspiration to do the same thing and try my best to get good at skiing,” von Allmen said. “We are a good team, with really good results.”

Italy, meanwhile, is expected to mount a serious challenge on home snow, with in-form Giovanni Franzoni and veteran Dominik Paris both capable of troubling the Swiss dominance. Franzoni has already shown his credentials this season with a World Cup downhill victory in Kitzbuehel.

With Olympic gold at stake on one of the sport’s most demanding courses, the men’s downhill promises a high-speed showdown between established champions and ambitious challengers.