Switzerland's Quest to Shatter the Super-G Olympic Curse
In the high-stakes world of alpine skiing, few narratives grip fans like an underdog story poised for triumph. As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics unfold in Bormio, Italy, the Swiss men's Super-G team stands on the brink of history. For decades, Switzerland has dominated downhill and slalom events, but the Super-G—a blistering blend of speed and technical precision—has remained an elusive Olympic gold for them. Can stars like Franjo von Allmen and Marco Odermatt finally break the curse on the iconic Stelvio course?
The Super-G made its Olympic debut in 1988 at Calgary, Canada, and since then, the men's podium has been a showcase for Norwegian, Austrian, French, and German prowess. Kjetil Andre Aamodt leads with three golds for Norway, followed by Austria's Matthias Mayer with two. No Swiss skier has claimed the top spot, a fact that stings in a nation synonymous with ski excellence. Veterans like Didier Cuche, who snagged silver in Nagano 1998, have come close, but gold has slipped away. Now, with Bormio's challenging terrain as the backdrop, experts are buzzing about a Swiss breakthrough.
Franjo von Allmen: The Smiling Speed Demon
Franjo von Allmen has emerged as the darling of these Games. Already an Olympic champion in the downhill and a key player in Switzerland's team combined victory—thanks to teammate Tanguy Nef's stunning slalom run—von Allmen enters the Super-G with momentum. Austrian Olympic gold medallist Fritz Strobl, a prognosticator with a track record of spot-on predictions, is all in on von Allmen. 'He's running around with a permanent grin,' Strobl told reporters, drawing from his own experience as the 2002 Super-G winner. 'That's when you win easiest—when you're enjoying it.'
Von Allmen's form is no fluke. His aggressive line choices and unflappable confidence have turned heads. If Strobl's oracle-like foresight holds, von Allmen could secure a historic third gold, etching his name into Swiss sporting lore. But the pressure is immense; the 28-year-old knows a win here would end 38 years of Super-G frustration.
Marco Odermatt: The Technical Maestro
Not to be overshadowed, Marco Odermatt brings a different edge to the Swiss challenge. The 27-year-old is a technician par excellence, renowned for carving perfect turns on icy slopes. Germany's Felix Neureuther, a 13-time World Cup winner and skiing pundit, tips Odermatt as the favourite. 'Right after the team combined, the piste was ripped up by a snowcat, watered, and refrozen,' Neureuther explained. 'This could make sections icier than the downhill, playing to Odermatt's strengths.'
Odermatt's breakthrough came in 2018 on this very Stelvio course, where he stunned the field as a 20-year-old in a World Cup Super-G. His precision could be the key on a track that's reportedly more technical than flashy, without obvious traps but demanding flawless execution from the Carcentina traverse to the San Pietro jump.
Italy's Home Advantage: A Threat to Swiss Dreams
While Swiss hopes run high, the host nation Italy isn't yielding ground easily. The Azzurri trained extensively on the Stelvio pre-Olympics, giving them an intimate knowledge of the 2,047-metre descent. Leading the charge is Giovanni Franzoni, the Kitzbühel Super-G victor who clinched silver in the Olympic downhill. ORF expert Hans Knauss, the 1998 Super-G silver medallist, hails Franzoni as the 'hottest' contender. 'Don't forget their pre-event training here,' Knauss warned.
Adding intrigue, Italian coach Lorenzo Galli was selected as course setter. Swiss speed coach Reto Nydegger inspected the layout and noted its similarity to the downhill, with straightforward lines but potential for speed bursts. Italy's veteran Christof Innerhofer compared it to the 2018 World Cup Super-G won by Dominik Paris on the same hill— a race where a young Odermatt first shone. Galli's no-nonsense set could neutralise the Swiss edge, especially if conditions favour the locals' familiarity.
Historical Context and Course Breakdown
The Super-G's Olympic history underscores the stakes. Norway's five golds highlight their dominance in speed events, while Austria's three reflect technical mastery. France's Frank Piccard (1988) and Germany's Markus Wasmeier (1994) round out the early winners. For Switzerland, the drought is a motivator; their alpine program has produced legends, but Super-G gold remains the missing piece.
Bormio's Stelvio is a beast: starting at 2,258 metres, it drops 880 vertical metres with high-speed straights and rhythmic turns. Weather could play spoiler—recent preparations suggest a firmer, icier surface than the downhill, favouring technicians over pure speedsters. Nydegger's assessment points to a course mirroring the downhill until the final jumps, where precision will separate contenders from also-rans.
Expert Consensus: A Swiss Sweep in Sight?
Polling experts yields a clear theme: Switzerland is primed for glory. Strobl's von Allmen pick, Neureuther's Odermatt nod, and even Knauss's Italian caveat acknowledge the Swiss duo's form. With von Allmen's two golds already boosting morale and Odermatt's technical wizardry, the team is firing on all cylinders. Yet, underestimating Italy—buoyed by home crowds and course intel—would be folly.
As the gun sounds on Wednesday, the world watches. Will Switzerland finally conquer the Super-G summit? For fans in the UK and beyond, this race promises drama, speed, and potentially a new chapter in Olympic skiing history. Stay tuned to Everythiiing.com for live updates and post-race analysis.
