Wide-ranging interview with Bode Miller discussing Marcel Hirscher’s achievements, his own personal experiences at the Olympics and prospects for the German athletes
What did you think of Hirscher’s race and performance in the combined?
It was a great race. Obviously adverse conditions that messed with the race quite a bit. Moving the start down, going around the jumps and the wind gates and the wind lines. Then the wind affecting a lot of the downhillers, shortening the slalom a little bit. But overall, I think the right people won. I think Pinturault did a great job also. To be in it as close as he was, and only two tenths off. So, I thought It was an exciting race.
How important was this start for Hirscher for his Games?
Well obviously, he’s been battling with the press and all the pressures of being as dominant as he has been without a gold medal. So to get het monkey off his back first thing, in my opinion his least likely gold medal, and start off his games this way, you can’t start it off better. Obviously there’s nothing better than a gold medal for your first event.
You’re an Olympic champion in this event. What’s the best part of wining the combined?
The combined for me, historically, is important. It still does represent the best overall skier because you have to do both. And whether or not you’re like Marcel Hirscher and you’re super-dominant in one, or somewhere middling in both, and you expect to win it by being kinda 10th in both races, I think it doesn’t really matter. The end result is the same. You have to be very accomplished in both events. And I think that’s something special because it is such a historic event.
Speed is a discipline where you need a lot experience, do you see any changes over the last years, in this matter.
The courses have been getting more and more turny, less actually true downhill gliding setup, so that’s been a bit of a change. I think it’s started to sway back in the other direction, maybe the last two years. And I think we’re starting to get a really good mix of big strong guys who wouldn’t be very affective traditionally in slalom but they’re becoming very successful in downhill.
We saw Thomas Dressen win Kitzbühel. Where does he make a difference?
He’s really good on his edges, he’s super-precise, he’s very dynamic. He’s a powerful skier, he lines up well. He’s got good balance over the middle of the skis. I would say he’s got a great overall skillset, he’s a little bit young, and he doesn’t have the experience of some of the other racers. But I think he’s got a really bright future. To win Kitzbuhel already. It’s the same thing as Marcel winning his first Olympic gold. It’s huge to go in there and win that place so early in your career.
His coach is telling him not to go 100%. Is it difficult to keep your pace down, getting that message?
I don’t think he listens to him. I don’t think any racer listens to his coach when they tell them not to go 100%. That not going 100% thing, is not a good way to win world cups. And when you’re out there doing it, you have to do what you feel is right. They might listen but they don’t actually do when it comes time to be on the course. When you’re on the course, you’re going 100%.
Is he among your favourites for the downhill here in PyeongChang?
He wasn’t after the training runs, I didn’t know what to expect coming in. But after watching him ski, he doesn’t really have the raw speed, to be effective. There’s not a lot of areas on this course where he can beat the other racers. But after he won the downhill portion of the combined yesterday, you’d have to say he’s at least in the mix. If things go his way, he’s figured this course out, at least to be effective.
Do you like German Beer?
Yes of course I like German beer. Not as much as American beer, but yes.
Have you been to the German House?
No, I’ve never been.
Is that something you’d like to do?
[Laughs] Maybe. If I had a day off the next day. Maybe.
fonte: Eurosport, Casa delle Olimpiadi
