Courchevel, France – Marco Odermatt of Switzerland cemented his dominance in alpine skiing, securing both the overall World Cup title and the downhill crown on Friday, March 13, 2026. The achievement marks his fifth consecutive overall title, placing him alongside Marc Girardelli in second place on the all-time winners list, trailing only Marcel Hirscher’s record of eight titles ESPN.
Odermatt’s consistency throughout the season made the overall title a formality, as his lead over Lucas Pinheiro Braathen – the only competitor with a mathematical chance of overtaking him – was insurmountable. Braathen does not compete in downhill events, and the remaining six races of the season were insufficient to close a deficit exceeding 600 points in the overall standings CBC Sports.
What we have is Odermatt’s third straight downhill globe, representing his 10th career discipline title. He is now poised to potentially add the super-G globe to his collection this weekend and remains in a strong position to win the giant slalom title at the World Cup Finals next week ESPN. He previously secured these four globes in both the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
The downhill race itself saw Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr take first place with a time 0.31 seconds faster than Odermatt, even as Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni finished second, just 0.09 seconds behind Kriechmayr AP News. Despite finishing third, Odermatt’s overall performance secured him the downhill globe, a fact confirmed before his run when teammate and Olympic champion Franjo von Allmen skied out after needing a first or second-place finish to remain competitive.
Von Allmen’s run ended when he lost control in a right turn, skiing through soft snow outside the designated course. The race took place in warm and sunny conditions on the course used for the 2023 world championships AP News.
Friday likewise marked the final race for French skier Adrien Théaux, who received a touching send-off from his partner Bérangère at the finish area RFI Sport. Swiss skier Niels Hintermann announced his retirement following the race AP News.
Odermatt’s consistent performance has drawn comparisons to the legendary Marcel Hirscher, who holds the record for most overall World Cup titles with eight. As Odermatt continues to build his legacy, he expressed that his success stems from his ability to remain “solid in every race” L’Équipe (translated).
With the overall and downhill titles secured, Odermatt’s focus now shifts to the super-G competition, where he is well-positioned to add another globe to his impressive collection. The World Cup Finals promise to be a thrilling conclusion to the season, with Odermatt also aiming for the giant slalom title.
The alpine skiing world will be watching closely as Odermatt continues his pursuit of Hirscher’s record, and his performance in the upcoming races will undoubtedly shape the narrative of the 2026 World Cup season. Share your thoughts on Odermatt’s achievements in the comments below.
