The Benjamin Button of world skiing has struck again! Already the oldest world medalist since his second place at the Are Worlds in 2019, Johan Clarey did it again on Monday February 7 at the Beijing Olympics. At 41, the dean of the French alpine ski team tamed the Yanqing Olympic downhill track to win a magnificent silver medal.
It is the first medal of his career in four appearances at the Games. And the second for the Blues in Beijing. On the podium, Johan Clarey is accompanied by the Swiss winner Beat Feuz and the Austrian Matthias Mayer. He explodes in passing the record for the oldest medalist in alpine skiing, so far held by the American Bode Miller who was 36 years old when he won the super-G bronze in 2014.
Leaving with bib number 19, the skier from Tignes made his experience speak for himself to tame a track which sent some candidates to the mat among the first starters, including the German Dominik Schwaiger, who fell severely on his left shoulder. Inspired by the good run of Matthieu Bailet, offensive and long in the game, Johan Clarey took off from the first curves, taking the lead on the first lap times against the clock of the final winner Beat Feuz.
“I really put everything in. I’m exhausted after this week. When you push hard, there are bound to be small mistakes. It’s more speed mistakes than anything else. I’m super happy with the way.”
Johan Clarey, Olympic downhill vice-championat franceinfo: sport
Although he conceded time at the end of the track, Johan Clarey stood up to another big favorite, Mathias Mayer. Enough to afford a first Olympic medal at 41 years old. “I didn’t race before the race, for once I stayed very calm. I lost very little energy. The podium is nice, there is an Olympic champion and the best downhiller around me “savored the brand new silver medalist at the microphone of France Télévisions.
All happy to have around the neck “something other than a collection of pins”, the Tignard can savor its late hour of glory. In his wake, the other Blues did not deserve. Matthieu Bailet (27th) had set the tone well, author of a first part of the supersonic race, before committing a big mistake. He finished just behind Blaise Giezendanner (26th). Note the good race of Maxence Muzaton (11th). Among the favorites, it’s a cold shower for Aleksander Kilde (5th) and Marco Odermatt (7th).