The supposedly most difficult task awaited ski racer Alexander Schmid only after his perfect run to the gold medal. The new world champion struggled to stay on his feet in the parallel competition when his enthusiastically celebrating teammate Linus Straßer jumped into his arms.
Cheered by the entire German team, Schmid threw his arms in the air after the biggest success of his career. The French mountains were reflected in his eyes, and in his face he was proud of the first individual gold medal for the German men at an Alpine World Ski Championships since Hansjörg Tauscher’s triumph in the downhill from Vail in 1989.
Schmid kept looking at the bright blue sky over Méribel in amazement. Even 30 minutes after the race, the 28-year-old still shook his head at the congratulations from the entire ski scene. “I’m incredibly proud and overjoyed. It’s such a crazy day,” said Schmid in his usual reserved manner. The technology specialist is not a man of big words, and certainly not one who stands for exuberant jubilation.
Team as Fans
Teammates Straßer and Lena Dürr, who failed in the round of 16 and quarterfinals, celebrated all the more. “Linus and I were even more nervous than if we were at the start ourselves,” said Dürr after she had snapped countless pictures of Schmid for the German World Cup album. Former ski racer Felix Neureuther spoke of an “amazing perfection” in Schmid’s imagination.
Schmid, who is rather shy, doesn’t handle compliments very well. He was powerless against the hymns of praise that rained down on the Allgäuer every second on Wednesday. “For me, Alex is one of the most brilliant giant slalom skiers in the World Cup. Today he really showed where his level is,” national coach Christian Schwaiger praised his protégé.
Schmid’s level was outstanding from the start of the competition. “He’ll get a medal,” Straßer already knew after the first round. With impressive ease, Schmid meandered between the bars in the parallel race, first defeating the Italian Filippo Della Vite, then the Slovenian Zan Kranjec and Timon Haugan from Norway. In the gold fight with the Austrian Dominik Raschner it was almost a class difference.
Relief at the DSV
Schmid can ski – the competition and those responsible in the German Ski Association (DSV) have known that for a long time. Only Schmid, who had also struggled with the Epstein-Barr virus in the past, did not always seem completely convinced of his own performance. “Sometimes he doesn’t have the self-confidence to judge himself well,” said national coach Schwaiger. Schmid should have it now at the latest. After World Cup bronze and Olympic silver in the team, this time there was a golden sparkle around his neck. And he alone is responsible for it. At the World Championships in Cortina d’Ampezzo in 2021, he had finished the thankless fourth place in the parallel race.
And what does Schmid’s success mean for the German team after previously sobering World Cup days in France, in which the speed squad had gone empty-handed? “Now at least the pressure is off. You can imagine what an extreme relief that is for everyone who works here,” said Alpine Director Wolfgang Maier.
For Schmid everything that comes now is an encore. Just enjoy. The pressure is gone. No really bad omens for his favorite discipline giant slalom. “I’m sure he has a lot of self-confidence now,” Schwaiger speculated. In the giant slalom on Friday, Schmid can add another chapter to his World Cup fairy tale in France. Straßer should then also be back on the gang – and be prepared for the next jump into Schmid’s arms.
