Braathen Dominates Alpine Skiing; Swiss Trio Shines
In a thrilling first run of the Olympic giant slalom in Bormio, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen showcased his skiing prowess. He took the lead, setting a remarkable time that put him ahead of his competitors, including the reigning Olympic champion Marco Odermatt.
Key Performances in the Olympic Giant Slalom
Pinheiro Braathen’s performance was nothing short of dominant. His time became increasingly significant as subsequent racers challenged his score. Marco Odermatt, who finished second, lagged nearly one second behind Braathen, highlighting the latter’s exceptional run. Loïc Meillard, sitting in third place, was also off the pace by more than 1.5 seconds.
Swiss Athletes in the Mix
The Swiss team is strong, with three competitors positioned to potentially earn medals. Alongside Meillard, Thomas Tumler, a World Championship runner-up, trailed closely behind, losing about three-tenths of a second more than Meillard. These performances suggest a bright outlook for Team Switzerland.
- Lucas Pinheiro Braathen – Leader
- Marco Odermatt – 2nd place, 0.95 seconds behind
- Loïc Meillard – 3rd place, 1.57 seconds behind
- Thomas Tumler – Close to Meillard’s time
Other Competitors and Challenges
Besides the Swiss trio, other skiers like France’s Léo Anguenot and Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen finished within two seconds of Braathen as well. Each of these athletes showed resilience, despite the challenging conditions of the course. However, Luca Aerni struggled significantly, landing in 20th place with a time that put him nearly three seconds behind the leader.
The second run of the giant slalom is set to begin at 1:30 pm. The stakes are high, and the competition remains fierce.
