Alexander Schmid could hardly believe his luck.
The ski racer from SC Fischen has reached the podium in a giant slalom World Cup for the first time.
The 27-year-old finished third in Alta Badia on Monday.
He was 1.09 seconds behind the once again outstanding Swiss Marco Odermatt, who was already celebrating his fourth win of the season.
Second was the Italian Luca De Aliprandini (+1.01 seconds).
“It's just amazing and a dream,” Schmid told Bayerischer Rundfunk after he hadn't even qualified for the final of the top 30 in the first giant slalom on the Gran Risa on Sunday.
"That means a lot to me."
Great second run
This time, however, the Allgäu drove as if unleashed - and finally in two runs in a row. As soon as he reached the finish line after the famous second run, he tore both arms up and cheered. Unlike at the World Championships in Cortina d'Ampezzo in February, when he was still eliminated after finishing third in the first run, he could not be deprived of the podium this time. "I'm over the moon," said Schmid. “You work so hard every day. There are always ups and downs. ”This time he“ just wanted to have fun ”.
There was also encouragement from home after the disappointment from the previous day, reported the giant slalom specialist - and also dedicated third place to his one year older brother Manuel, who is out of the season as a result of a serious fall in training in the summer.
"Now I'll drive for both of us," said Schmid, who had only made it into the top three in parallel events.
His team mate Julian Rauchfuß had missed the second run on Monday in Alta Badia in 44th place.
Fabian Gratz did not even start after his fall the day before, in which he suffered a bruise on his left leg.