The quartet of Swiss skiers was eliminated in the quarter-finals during the Team Event of the Beijing Games. But failures and successes are experienced almost individually.
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Justin Murisier (right) and his compatriots did not shine during the team competition.
Although alpine skiing is practiced as a team during the Team Event, it remains an individual sport. “I’m mostly disappointed with myself because I’ve always taken a bit of time to get into the heat. There was no speed and it’s a shame not to have been able to fight for a medal, summed up Justin Murisier. We are all four disappointed, but we saw in training yesterday that Schmidt, Strasser and the German skiers were very fast. We knew it was going to be a battle and we would have preferred to find the Germans in the final.
Same story for her compatriot Wendy Holdener, who first analyzed her performance. “I’m happy with the way I got stronger, unfortunately Germany was a little stronger,” said the Schwyzoise, who might have overtaken Vreni Schneider with a sixth Olympic medal. That was my goal yes and if I’m still here in four years, that will of course be my goal! For that, you have to stay healthy, be motivated and always have fun. First, I will go home and rest!”
“It was definitely the most beautiful Olympic village I have seen so far”
Defending champions Switzerland were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Germany (it was Alexander Schmid’s time that made the difference – given that the two teams had won two duels each – of a competition won by Austria.
Wendy Holdener, Justin Murisier, Andrea Ellenberger and Gino Caviezel had to postpone their flight for a day (the event was canceled on Saturday due to the wind) but will take off on Monday morning without having managed to bring back a fifteenth medal for their country. In total, the Swiss skiers left the Yanqing snow with 9 of the 14 medals, including 5 of the 7 titles thanks to Marco Odermatt, Beat Feuz, Lara Gut-Behrami, Corinne Suter and Michelle Gisin.
A drink and to bed for Wendy
We might have imagined a bit of madness in the Yanqing Olympic Village, but the results remain individual. “There was a good atmosphere yes. We talked a little following Marco’s race (Odermatt), we had a drink but for me the disappointment was quite great following my elimination as a giant, said Justin Murisier. Skiing remains an individual sport, I came to bring back a medal and not to celebrate that of others. Otherwise I would come as an assistant and not as a skier.”
With her bronze (slalom) and silver (combined) medal, Wendy Holdener succeeded in her Beijing 2022 mission. “It was definitely the most beautiful Olympic village I have seen so far, even said the Schwyzoise . Personally, I am very happy with my form here, to have been at my top level in February to deliver my best performances.
“It’s not going to save me my butter that Feuz or Odermatt are Olympic champions”
In Yanqing, Wendy Holdener notably spent time with her friend Sakurako Mukogawa, a Japanese skier. “When Wendy came to Japan three years ago, we visited the country together, told us the Asian slalomer following the bronze medal of her Swiss friend. It is a model for me and whenever we have time, we try to eat together also in the World Cup.
But even for Wendy, the celebration of her successes didn’t seem to have been so wild in Yanqing. “We toasted with the whole team to celebrate the medals in the evening, revealed the Swiss. After the slalom I went to bed early and I did a little later following the combined!”
Whether Switzerland wins or misses, like on Sunday, it does not change much for the athletes. “It’s not going to make me earn my money that Feuz or Odermatt are Olympic champions, smiles Justin Murisier. I’m happy for them, you’d rather a Swiss win than another nation, but I’m not going to bring out the fireworks.”
