Beijing 2022: Men’s downhill preview

All is ready and set for the first alpine race at the 2022 Winter Olympic Games with tomorrow’s men’s downhill race scheduled to start at 11:00 (local time) / 04:00 (CET). Athletes have already completed two training runs on the course, to get them as prepared as possible for the race. Unfortunately, due to strong winds, the third training run had to be cancelled.

Out of the two training runs, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR), clocked in the fastest time 1:43.72. So far this season, the Norwegian has exceeded expectations after coming back from an injury incurred last season. With three downhill victories and currently sitting at the top of the World Cup downhill standings, Kilde seems to be in prime form to tackle this new challenge. “It’s been a great season and I have felt pressure from the outside and also from myself. I feel confident. I am ready to go” Kilde said.

Coming back for his third Winter Olympic Games, Matthias Mayer (AUT), can become the third alpine skier to win a gold medal at three different Olympics. In 2014, Mayer claimed gold in the downhill event and came back to win gold in the Super-G at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang. So far this season the Austrian has one downhill victory to his name after his stellar performance in Lake Louise (CAN).

After just missing out on a podium finish in PyeongChang, Dominik Paris (ITA), is ready to make his claim at the Olympics. The now four-time Olympian stated, “every single run drives me on. I want to go better and faster, put more on the line. I hope I have learned a lot from past Games. I want to try to beat them all.” Paris is coming from a strong downhill season, having claimed two podium finishes (1st and 3rd), and a further five top 10 finishes, the Italian seems to be on track.

Marco Odermatt (SUI) will be making his Olympic debut in tomorrow’s downhill race. The Swiss rocket is having a remarkable season and is currently leading the overall and Super G World Cup standings. He has yet to claim a World Cup downhill victory but has placed in the top 5 in six of the seven downhill races this season, which included three 2nd place finishes. Odermatt is confident leading into the race, stating that “you need everything, clean skiing, you can’t drift a lot. You just have to ski smooth and clean and always take the speed with you.”

He’ll surely be encouraged by his fellow teammate and two-time Olympic medallist, Beat Feuz (SUI). Feuz won silver in the Super-G and bronze in the downhill at the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, so will have his eyes set on gold this time around.

Quotes courtesy of Olympic Information Service