JOHAN CLAREY BECAME THE OLDEST OLYMPIAN MEDALIST OF 2022
(The Quiver) : The 41 years Frenchman johan Clarey has become the oldest medallist in alpine skier at an Olympic Winter Games, by winning silver in the men’s downhill at Beijing 2022. Four-time Olympian Clarey also holds the World Cup speed record by reaching 161.9 km/h (100.6 mph) in the classic Wengen downhill in 2013.During his career he clinched a total of 9 podiums, including a second place in the traditional Kitzbuehel downhill just weeks before the Beijing 2022 Olympics.
Clarey told Eurosport after winning the race on Monday (7 February) ,“Doing an Olympic medal when you are 20 or 41 it doesn’t matter, it’s an Olympic medal and this is the best feeling. The record of the oldest (skier to medal at the Olympics) is not that I don’t care, but is not the most important point.”
Talking about his experience during pratice, he said,”I knew I was doing a great race, I gave it all – the 41-year-old continued – I was getting tired of the week but one minute before the start, this is the only moment I felt good. I felt I was doing a great run, even if in downhill, we never know. It’s fantastic.
“I was pushing, pushing, taking a lot of risk. I knew I only had one chance left in my career to get a medal in the Olympics.” – Johan Clarey
Inspiring others he mentioned,”When we push hard, when we play with the limits, there is always some mistakes. The first bibs have done some as well. But at the end of the day, I’m very satisfied with the way I did.”
Clarey admitted that this was his last Winter Olympics, but that he may compete for one more season with the 2023 World Championships taking place in Courchevel-Meribel.
