Regez wins Olympic ski cross gold for Switzerland
Feb 18, 2022·Ski Cross
For the men’s finals on Friday, it was a bluebird sky and a perfect day for some great ski cross action with the sun shining over the Genting Snowpark in Zhangjiakou.
For the Olympic big final of men, the following gentlemen where in place at the start gate: PyeongChang 2018 bronze medallist Sergey Ridzik (ROC), the Swiss double pack of World Champion Alex Fiva and World Cup leader Ryan Regez and Idre 2021 World Championship bronze medallist Erik Mobaerg (SWE).
Alex Fiva had the fastest start out of the gate and got over the start section in style, but just at the end of the roller section, Ryan Regez was able to gain speed and pass Fiva to get into the lead. Fiva then managed to get into the draft of his teammate, who was still in front and just in third position it was Ridzik, who showed some great performance throughout the entire competition to get into the big final. And who by the way also had won the Olympic test event on that course back in November 2021 at the World Cup season opener.
It was only after one of the roller sections with the jump into a right bank turn, when Fiva tried to sneak by Regez to go for the first position, however Regez, with his incredible racing so far this season, managed to keep the door closed and not let the World Champion pass.
It was after that turn, when the ROC representative Ridzik also gained speed and was then head-to-head with Fiva fighting for the silver. At that point, Regez had won some margin in the lead and was absolutely going for that gold.
Fiva had managed to defend his second spot and therefore heading into the last bank turn and the final roller section over the final jump it was then Ryan Regez crossing the finish line for Olympic gold with 36-year-old Alex Fiva taking silver and Sergey Ridzik defending his PyeongChang 2018 bronze medal in an incredible manner.
What a fantastic and historic day, as after 12 years, the men’s ski cross gold medal went back to Switzerland after Mike Schmid had taken the very first Olympic ski cross gold medal back in 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. And with the current World Champion in second place and the defending Olympic bronze medallist in third, we could not have asked for a greater podium.
On feeling nervous during the season and leading up to today's competition, Ryan Regez said:
"I've been really nervous for the whole week. (It's) my first Games and the last big event was the world championships last year which Alex (FIVA) won, and I was just super nervous there as well and I was skiing in my head, so thinking whilst skiing and there I messed up. Today it was just a lot of pressure on me because I won the last two world cup events. I'm in the lead of the overall world cup so for sure everyone was just hoping (I would) come here and take the victory and eventually it worked out, but there was just so much going on, so much pressure. I phoned a lot with family, friends, and yesterday I had a long talk with my coaches.”
That’s it, that’s all, ladies and gentlemen. The Olympic ski cross medals are handed out, the big smiles and happy faces are in the history books for ever and now it’s time to let it sink in.
No real time for a break though, as the circuit is returning to the daily business of the Audi FIS Ski Cross World Cup. Next stop: back-to-back races in Sunny Valley, Russia on February 26-27, where it will be time to fight for the highly anticipated golden crown.
Time to pack up those medals and hop on the plane and fly a couple of kilometers to the West to get some more ski cross action done.
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