American Ryan Cochran-Siegle claims second-career Olympic super-G silver medal
SSCV alumni Kyle Negomir placed 26th while River Radamus posted a DNF in his second race of the Games
Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP photo
Ryan Cochran-Siegle backed up his 2022 Olympic super-G silver with another medal of the same color in the same event on Wednesday in Bormio.
“Happy — a little overwhelmed,” Cochran-Siegle said.
Franjo von Allmen continued his historic Olympic run, claiming his third gold medal in six days. The Swiss skier stopped the clock at 1 minute, 25.32 seconds, 13 hundredths ahead of Cochran-Siegle. Marco Odermatt, who has won four-straight overall crystal globes and swept the super-G, GS and downhill globes the last two seasons as well, picked up the bronze medal.
“For the moment I feel like I am dreaming. I hope I don’t wake up,” von Allmen told FIS. “I’m missing the words today. It’s completely surreal what’s going on today and the whole Olympics.”
Former Ski and Snowboard Club Vail skier Kyle Negomir was the third American in 26th, 3.30 seconds off the lead. Sam Morse, from Maine, finished in 23rd, 1.80 seconds off the winning time. Edwards skier River Radamus posted a DNF in his second start of these Olympics.
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“The track was super fun to ski — it was really grippy snow,” said Morse, who was able to ski in the sun from bib 21.
“Kyle did not, so I don’t have that excuse for it being dark. (I) maybe have the excuse of it being a little peely,” Morse continued. “But, really, really happy for Ryan. I mean, he deserves that. I know he had a lot of pressure on him today to back it up.”
Negomir echoed his teammate’s sentiment.
“I don’t think any of us particularly skied up to our capabilities, but nevertheless, it’s so cool to see Ryan push through and stay committed through the ups and downs of having so much riding on him in this Olympics,” Negomir said. “I think we’re all just really proud of him.”
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Morse’s first Olympics are over, but Negomir and Radamus are slated to compete in the giant slalom on Feb. 14.
“I’m really looking forward to it, having an earlier start position in the GS than I would in the World Cup,” Negomir stated.
Cochran-Siegle said he drew inspiration from both the women’s Alpine team and fellow Vermonter Ben Ogden’s historic performance in the men’s cross-country ski sprint final. On Tuesday, Ogden became the second American man to win an Olympic medal in the sport, repeating the feat of another Vermont legend, Bill Koch, who claimed a silver 50 years ago. Ogden grew up skiing at Koch’s backyard trails with his son, former CU Buff, Will Koch.
“Seeing him get second — I think there was a lot of pride in that, and then Paula (Moltzan) and Jackie (Wiles) yesterday, too. Just seeing their success, seeing their joy,” Cochran-Siegle said. “Obviously I’m not going out of the start trying to win an Olympic medal. I’m trying to just go and ski the way I want to ski. And I think seeing their performances re-instilled the belief in myself and that inspiration was really key.”
Cochran-Siegle placed 18th in the downhill on Feb. 7 and wasn’t selected to compete in the team combined two days later. He said on Wednesday that he was dealing with stomach issues last Saturday morning.
“It wasn’t my best day,” he admitted. “I threw up in the gondola and then I threw up again in the bathroom two hours before the start. But it’s the Olympic downhill — no day is going to be perfect. … I tried to ski my hardest; definitely didn’t have it in my legs.”
The 33-year-old said the “failure of that day” helped him refocus for Wednesday.
“Because I really did want to go out and perform,” he explained. “It allowed me to recognize what’s really important and that just was getting back to the skiing and doing whatever I can control.”
