[ad_1]
Justin Murisier celebrates his first World Cup podium in third place in the Big Laughter. It is the reward earned by someone who has never given up.
Deeply moved: Justin Murisier enjoys the awards ceremony – his face is hidden behind his now familiar mask with the gap between his teeth.
Photo: Alessandro Garofalo (Reuters)
How much this moment means to him is perhaps best illustrated by the following scene: Meanwhile, winner Alexis Pinturault and runner-up Atle Lie McGrath are splashing champagne wildly, Justin Murisier stands still. Then he picks up the heavy bottle and takes a few sips. Murisier had to be 28 to experience what it felt like be on a World Cup podium.
Once a great future was prophesied for him. In his youth he was one of the best in his field and won three medals at the World Championship in Crans-Montana. But then the cruciate ligament tore while playing soccer. It would be the beginning of Murisier’s story of suffering because his cruciate ligament was torn two more times and he had to undergo surgery on his right knee four times.
And now Murisier is in the Alta Badia target area, slightly teary-eyed when he arrives for the SRF interview. Then say: “It’s not just a third place, es is much more. meNow I have come back four times from serious injuries.north, it was so difficult.»
Spectacular premiere of McGrath
As the eleventh of the first round, Muriser created a favorable starting position for the recap. And there the Valais convinced with its not flawless, but aggressive driving style.
Justin Murisier’s drive in the second race.
Video: SRF
After which he could take a seat in the leader’s seat and watch competitor after competitor miss their pace. This also included his teammate Marco Odermatt. The Nidwalden man, who was injured in the Big Laugh giant slalom last year, was ultimately four hundredths short of Murisier.
But then it was time for McGrath. The only 20-year-old Norwegian dominated one of the most difficult tracks in the World Cup in spectacular fashion. For which he was rewarded with his first podium and thus completed the excellent performance of the team: five Norwegians were classified among the 20. His overall success was impeded by a Norwegian “middle”. Pinturault, whose mother is from Norway, kept her nerve as the leader of the first race and celebrated her first giant slalom victory of the season.
SThe performance of the Swiss team can also be married METERurisier and Odermatt, Semyel Bissig and Gino Caviezel (ex aequo 13th) made the top 15. It didn’t go according to plan at all for this Loïc Meillard. He missed the second race due to a serious mistake.
