Fast, faster, Marco Odermatt. When it’s the season, the ski racer whizzes down the slopes on the hunt for his first podium place. In this interview, the 26-year-old Olympic gold medal winner tells us where he goes in his free time and how his collaboration with Longines began.
FACES: You have said in the past that laughter is extremely important. When was the last time you had a good laugh?
Marco Odermatt: I think you laugh every day. I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard, but I would say that I always find a reason to laugh.
FACES: You seem to be a positive person. Would you say that a positive mindset is important as a ski racer?
Marco Odermatt: Yes, absolutely. There are many things that you can’t influence as a ski racer, such as the weather. I find that at the end of the day, positives and negatives balance each other out, which is why I always try to stay positive.
FACES: You are often out and about in the mountains because of your job. Where do you go when you’re on vacation?
Marco Odermatt: I usually go on vacation in April, after the end of the season. At this point, I’ve usually had enough of the mountains, which is why I’m more drawn to the beach. At least that was the case in previous years. But I could also well imagine going on a ski tour in Iceland at some point, for example. The main thing is to be close to nature!
FACES: Skiing is one of your great passions. What else is close to your heart?
Marco Odermatt: I don’t think there’s anything that grabs me like skiing. But sport in general is important to me – preferably somewhere outdoors in nature. It doesn’t matter whether I’m on a piste or walking in the mountains – the main thing is exercise and fresh air.
FACES: What has been the best moment of your career so far?
Marco Odermatt: There are a few nice moments I could mention. When I won my first junior world title seven or eight years ago, that was my biggest highlight. However, when I think back to the recent past, the gold medals I won at the Olympic Games and the World Championships are certainly among the major milestones of my career to date.
FACES: Let’s move on to your cooperation with Longines. Why exactly Longines?
Marco Odermatt: I think as a ski racer, you can’t ask for anything better than a partnership with Longines. They have long been the timekeepers of the Alpine Ski World Cup. Our collaboration began when I was still a young newcomer who didn’t know much about watches. But even then I knew that if I wanted a watch, it had to be a Longines, as it was the best match for ski racing.
FACES: As you say yourself, you had different interests as a young newcomer than you do now. Would you say that style plays a more important role for you as you get older?
Marco Odermatt: Yes and no. Personally, for example, I don’t need designer items to be happy. But I’ve had the privilege of working with various brands so far, which has always been a great pleasure.
FACES: Finally: Have you seen the new Beckham documentary?
Marco Odermatt: I’m currently on the fourth episode.
FACES: Beckham was celebrated by many as a top athlete. However, this popularity quickly tipped in the other direction. Is that something that gives you food for thought as an athlete?
Marco Odermatt: I wouldn’t compare myself to someone like David Beckham. But the documentary did a good job of showing what it can be like to be in the public eye: things can go downhill just as quickly as they go up.
The Conquest Marco Odermatt
Longines presents a new Conquest Limited Edition. The sporty model is called Conquest Marco Odermatt and, as the name suggests, was designed in collaboration with the Swiss ski racer Marco Odermatt. The stainless steel case has a diameter of 42 millimeters, while the self-winding movement ensures that the timepiece has a power reserve of up to 59 hours. The limited edition comprises exactly 2,042 pieces and is a tribute to Marco Odermatt’s outstanding performance: in March 2023, the ski racer scored exactly 2,042 points in the overall standings – the highest number of points ever achieved by a skier in one season.
Find out more about the collaboration between Marco Odermatt and Longines here.
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Teaser photo: © Marco Odermatt, Longines
