"I think he's Mr. Olympics, and he's a fantastic guy," rejoiced his compatriot Vincent Kriechmayr, himself reigning super-G and downhill world champion, fifth on Tuesday.

After 1 min 19 sec 94/100th of effort, Mayer beat the American Ryan Cochran-Siegle, to whom he only missed 4/100th to create a huge surprise, and beat Norwegian favorite Aleksander Aamodt by 42/100th Kilde, world No. 1 in downhill and super-G.

Third in the downhill on Monday, the 31-year-old Austrian won a fourth Olympic medal and became the third alpine skier titled in three different editions after Norwegian Kjetil Andre Aamodt (super-G 1992, 2002, 2010) and Italian Deborah Compagnoni (super-G 92, giant 94 and 98).

Accustomed to World Cup podiums (41), Mayer disturbed the expected duel between Kilde and the leader of the big globe race Marco Odermatt, who shared the five super-Gs of the winter.

Top 10 for Giezendanner

First of the cadors to start with bib 7, winner of three super-Gs this winter, Kilde nevertheless believed in victory when he raised his arms at the bottom of the track, face radiant, after a demonstration of power and cleanliness technical.

Especially since Marco Odermatt, a prodigy of balance usually capable of catching up with all risk-taking, this time made a mistake, on a very rotating course cooked up by his trainer, Reto Nydegger.

Matthias Mayer after the super-G of the Beijing Olympics, February 8, 2022 Fabrice COFFRINI AFP

"At the Olympics, only a medal counts. Maybe you take a little more risk than usual in the World Cup, where a 4th or 5th place brings important points", explained the 24-year-old Swiss, already turned towards the giant on Sunday.

Starting with bib number 13, Mayer showed his agility to stay on the track after punching one of the first gates with his left shoulder, then achieved a breathtaking end of the race on visibly polished snow over the passages. .

"The track is accelerating", confirmed Alexis Pinturault.

"I think it comes a lot from the very cold weather at night, and you can see that when you get to bib number 9, it's going extremely quickly".

Starting in third position, the holder of the big globe finally finished 11th, satisfied to have produced a "rather good, fair" ski and to have taken cues for the alpine combined on Thursday, but frustrated by the changing conditions.

"I have to remember the way," said the Savoyard.

"I didn't have the ideal bib, but the skiing was good, the intentions were good".

Blaise Giezendanner, recent third in the downhill at Kitzbühel, finished 9th, while Matthieu Bailet, author of a very good start to the run, missed a gate.

© 2022 AFP