Swiss skier Tumler collects 1st World Cup win at age of 35
Swiss skier Thomas Tumler achieved a significant milestone in his career on Sunday, securing his first-ever World Cup victory at the age of 35. Tumler, who had been competing on the World Cup circuit since 2012, finally reached the top of the podium after 123 previous races where he had only managed to finish on the podium three times.
With a combined time of two minutes 27.60 seconds, Tumler edged out Lucas Pinheiro Braathen by 0.12 seconds to claim the top spot. Braathen, the first Brazilian man to achieve a World Cup podium finish, put up a strong fight, finishing in second place. Slovenian skier Zan Kranjec rounded out the podium in third place with a time of 2:28.18.
Tumler’s victory marked a clean sweep for the Swiss team at Beaver Creek this year, with Justin Murisier winning the downhill event on Friday and Marco Odermatt taking the top spot in Saturday’s Super-G race. Tumler dominated the field after a flawless first run, finishing with a time of 1:16.24, giving him a comfortable lead going into the second run.
Braathen put up a valiant effort in the second run, significantly improving his time to briefly take the lead. However, Tumler remained composed under pressure, maintaining his lead and ultimately securing the victory. Despite a slight wobble on his final run, Tumler managed to hold off the competition and clinch the win before collapsing in joyous celebration on the snow.
Braathen, who had previously skied for Norway before changing allegiance and briefly retiring, was emotional upon realizing he would be stepping onto the podium. Meanwhile, World Cup holder and Olympic champion Odermatt was unable to secure another podium finish after a slip early in his second run.
Overall, Tumler’s long-awaited victory was a testament to his perseverance and dedication to the sport. The Swiss skier’s triumph at Beaver Creek will undoubtedly be a memorable moment in his career, marking the beginning of what could be a successful season ahead for him.
