Alexis Pinturault entered the history of French alpine skiing on Saturday by winning the big crystal globe, the most prestigious trophy in his sport.
A first for a Frenchman since 1997. "It was a weekend full of emotions. I'm just starting to realize it," said the skier on Wednesday on Europe 1.
INTERVIEW
A historic performance.
Alexis Pinturault won the Alpine Skiing World Cup on Saturday, becoming the first Frenchman to afford the big crystal globe since 1997. "It was a weekend full of emotions. I'm just starting to realize it. account ", smiles the skier, guest of Europe 1 Wednesday.
After many podiums, "experiences, but also failures", Alexis Pinturault has definitely marked the history of French skiing.
"My goal is to win the competition"
Second in the World Cup in 2019 and 2020, Pinturault became at 30 the fourth French skier to win the title after Jean-Claude Killy in 1967 and 1968, Michèle Jacot in 1970 and Luc Alphand in 1997. Shortly after his victory, the latter said: "When you win this award, it means that you are the best."
Alexis Pinturault takes a slightly different perspective.
"I don't tend to use that term too much. My goal is to win the competition."
It is an understatement to say that Alexis Pinturault does not like failure.
Born March 20, 1991 in Moûtiers, Alexis Pinturault is nurtured to excellence in a family that owns two luxury hotels in the chic resort of Courchevel.
"The second is the first of the last," repeated his father, with whom he used to play football.
At 10 or 11, he rolled on the ground when he lost.
"I kept asking for more, I thought I could win. I don't like to lose, I prefer to find solutions to lose as little as possible. If it happens once, you might as well accept it so that it doesn't happen again."