Super G gold no longer 'missing' as Odermatt cruises to World Championships victory in Saalbach

Marco Odermatt (SUI/Stöckli) finally won a World Championships medal in Super G as he dominated a competitive field on Friday to win Switzerland's first gold at Saalbach 2025.

Odermatt has won World Championships gold in Downhill and Giant Slalom, but had never been on a podium in Super G in three previous attempts.

Speaking ahead of Saalbach 2025, the Super G World Cup leader said the self-imposed pressure was on for this race as he sought a medal he felt was "still missing" from his impressive collection.

On Friday morning, the 28-year-old rectified that in style. Wearing the number 8 bib, Odermatt put down a near faultless run in which he kept aggressively low to record a time of 1:24.57, exactly a second faster than silver medallist Raphael Haaser (AUT/Fischer) and 1.15 seconds ahead of Adrian Smiseth Sejersted (NOR/Atomic) in third.

"It's crazy,” Odermatt said. “It's the one gold medal that was missing and now to have this one also in my pocket is another dream come true.

"This means a lot. If I could wish for probably (anything) I would take this one as the first one. It's unbelievable to be a world champion in three different disciplines.

"Two other races to come, so I'm just happy to be here, healthy and be in good shape."

Odermatt's winning margin was the second biggest in World Championships history, beaten only by Stephan Eberharter (AUT) at Saalbach 1991, who finished 1.54 seconds ahead of second-place Kjetil Andre Aamodt (NOR).

"I had a perfect plan in my mind. I did a long inspection, until the very last minute, and I could watch two or three guys from the top," Odermatt said.

"They all more or less confirmed my race tactic so I knew I could ski my plan and it really worked.

"It was really the perfect run."

Despite being the eighth skier out of a field of 62 - though three including Cameron Alexander (CAN/Rossignol) did not start - Odermatt says he instinctively knew his time would be enough to claim his country's first gold at these World Championships.

"I came in with speed just before the finish line and I told myself I couldn't do it any better, so it was something I already knew when I stopped at the finish," he said.

Silver is Haaser's second World Championships medal after the Austrian won bronze in the Alpine Combined at Courchevel Meribel 2023 - a feat matched by his sister Ricarda in the women's event that same year.

"I'm really speechless," Haaser said. "Home World Championships and going away with a medal is just amazing.

"The top part was pretty good. In a different part I was a little bit wide on the line but all in all a solid result again."

Sejersted's bronze was his first Super G podium since the Bormio World Cup in December 2020.

"I'm really happy with my run,” the Norwegian said.

“It was a really good track and I made a good run so I’m really happy.”

Asked about not being able to overhaul the full magnitude of Odermatt’s run, Sejersted said: “Marco is in another league so that’s OK.”

Meanwhile, hometown hero Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT/Head) returned to the fold for the first time since injuring ligaments in his right knee at the Wengen Downhill in January, and though his finish of fourth was impressive, the 2021 champion was disappointed to miss out on what would have been his third Super G World Championships medal.

"My run was not good enough," Kriechmayr said.

"All in all, not perfect timing through the course. It is what it is.

"I'm sorry for the whole crowd, but it's good for our team to have Raphael Haaser in second place.

“Incredible what Odermatt showed today. He's the best, and the best one today so congratulations to him."

Though he was disappointed with his Super G result, Kriechmayr was pleased that his knee withstood the rigours of a race ahead of the Downhill event later on this week.

"It's good to know for the Downhill on Sunday," he said. "Today the knee was perfect but we will see how it is on Sunday."