Olympic downhill vice-champion in Beijing, Johan Clarey, 41, announced that he would extend his career by another year in an interview with the Figaro published on Monday in order to participate in the 2023 World Championships in France. “I decided to do one more year. I really want to take part in the World Championships in France, in Courchevel-Méribel. I could not take part in those of 2009 in Val d’Isère because I was injured […] It’s a great goal, and it would be a great way to finish my career at the Worlds at home, ”explains the native of Annecy.
“It has been a fantastic season, which will undoubtedly remain as the crowning achievement of my career. I’m not an Olympic champion, but this silver medal is still extraordinary” also confesses the 40-year-old who has indeed just had the best season of his career.
Clarey thinks “still doing beautiful things”
Fourth in the downhill ranking of the World Cup, with second place in Kitzbühel, and above all the silver medal at the Beijing Olympics, where, to everyone’s surprise, he had found the resources to climb on the second step of the podium, just 10 hundredths from the Swiss Beat Feuz. “I am convinced that I can still achieve great things if I prepare well,” assured Clarey.