Matthias Mayer wins the men’s Super G
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History has been created after today’s men’s Super G race on “The Rock”. Austrian, Matthias Mayer, claims gold in the men’s Super G to become the first male skier to win three Olympic gold medals in successive Games. Having won the downhill at Sochi 2014 and the Super G at PyeongChang 2018, the reigning Super G Olympic Champion retains his title.
On his race plan:
“I tried to push hard, really hard. I saw (Aleksander Aamodt) KILDE’s run on TV at the start and it was really good, so I knew that I had to go all-in. I tried to push hard to the last gate, and it was good.”
On being the first male skier to win three Olympic gold medals in successive Games:
“That’s such a big success, I can’t imagine right now.”
Heading down the track just after Mayer, Ryan Cochran-Siegle (USA), could taste victory. Putting in a stellar run, the American finished only 0.04 seconds behind Mayer to claim his first-ever Olympic medal and his podium finish of the season.
On his performance:
“I was just trusting everything I’ve been through, and knowing I’m a good skier, trusting that and recognising there are so many good skiers this year, so to come here you have to put it on the line.
“I came out with risk and aggression and channelled my good skiing inside myself too. And all that together ended up like it’s a pretty cool day.”
On competing at the Olympic Winter Games:
“As athletes, you want to be able to perform on race day and that’s half the battle. It’s what’s so fun about the sport and what’s so challenging, just overcoming those adversities and keep going out and getting to experience a hill like this, the snow and really just embracing it. It makes these types of events so special.”
On coming from a family of skiers:
“I always hold where I come from on my shoulders. I recognise there are so many little kids like what I was when I was a kid. I just hope I can, with this race today, give those kids inspiration to follow their dreams, just like I was able to do. It’s for sure a special moment.”
On what he has learned from his mother Barbara Ann COCHRAN (USA), who won Olympic slalom gold in 1972:
“I’ve had enough Olympic races at this point that I think I understand in a way what it takes. You have to be dialled with everything and you have to mentally be able to go out there and push.
“I’ve heard a lot of advice over the years from my mom that I’ve been able to channel that and it added up to today.”
After having already won three out of the five Super G races this season, Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (NOR) was one of the clear favourites ahead of today’s race. After having lost some time on the lower part of the course, the Norwegian finished third, 0.42 seconds behind Mayer, to claim his very first Olympic medal.
On his race plan:
“My plan when I went into the race was just ski the way I can, ski the way I’ve done the whole season. I managed really well. It was nice.
“I lost a little bit of my speed on the lower part when I lose about half a second, but all in all I’m happy.”
The Swiss duo, Marco Odermatt and Beat Feuz, were not in luck in today’s race. Odermatt who was one of the favourites heading into the race, and 2018 Super G silver medallist Feuz both did not manage to finish their run.
Odermatt on skiing out near the end of his run:
“A mistake. I tried everything. I took the risk that was definitely needed to have the chance for a medal and at the very last turn it was too much.
“I was fast till there and then one mistake and the race is over. For sure not what I expected, a DNF (did not finish), but it is how it is. If you don’t risk you can get fourth and you are not happy as well.
“It’s the Olympic Games, just the medal counts so maybe you are taking a little bit more risk than usual. In the world cup usually fourth, fifth place are some important points, here it counts for nothing.”
2021 Super G World Champion, Vincent Kriechmayr (AUT), put in a sturdy performance in today’s race however missed out on a podium finish by 0.34 seconds. Nonetheless he had some very supporting words for his fellow Austrian.
On teammate Matthias Mayer (AUT) winning his third Olympic gold:
“He won the race on the flat part of the race. He was two-tenths (of a second) behind Alex (Aamodt Kilde (NOR)) at the last split and he made a fantastic flat part.
“Congrats to Matthias, he is Mr Olympic.
“He is a fantastic guy. It’s good for him, it’s good for Austria but of course now I am thinking about my race and it’s not good enough. I made a good run but not good enough, that’s it. Of course I wanted to go for a medal and I didn’t reach my goal.”
Quotes courtesy of Olympic Information Service
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