French hero Johan Clarey is arguably the most famous alpine skier who has never won anything. Clarey, who turned 42 in January, made his debut in the Alpine Skiing World Cup 20 years ago, but success eluded the speedster, who suffered from several injuries, for years.
Entering 2019, Clarey had reached the podium four times in the World Cup, until Åre’s World Championships broke out and he fought in super-g as the oldest skier in history at the age of 38 for silver. In the Olympic fall in Beijing, the “alpine world as Benjamin Button” named Clarey continued to break records, with only a tenth of a second separating Clarey from Olympic gold.
At the age of 41, Olympic silver was hung around his neck.
– In the past, people in their forties have been seen in speed sports, but they haven’t been successful. Clarey tried for a long time in the Cup and was there, but didn’t make a result and he was already laughed at a bit, when will he stop, Urheilu expert Kalle Palander remembers.
– In Åre, he won the medal and continued it last year at the Olympics. An unbelievably tough guy.
Upward career development is exceptional in speed sports. When many calculators start to slow down as they get older, Clarey has found the missing tenths somewhere. Clarey has laughed (you switch to another service) that he was a late riser in everything.
– My story is extraordinary. According to my mother, since I was a child, I have done everything later than others. It’s been true for walking and talking, so apparently it’s true for my sports career as well.
Olympic medal in memory of a dead friend
Clarey, who has competed in four Olympics since Vancouver, has been surprised by the twists and turns in her career. He did not know how to expect that the best years would be ahead only after the age of 35.
– After I turned 30, I have no longer suffered from injuries like in previous years. I’ve been able to enjoy racing more, and the fact that I’m still racing with these annual tires feels incredible.
Clarey has confirmed (you are switching to another service)that in his mind he is still under 30 years old, even if his body aches from time to time. to their Instagram account (you will switch to another service) he wrote in his motto that “pain is temporary, giving up is forever”.
– There are days when you feel like you are 50 or 60 years old. My wife Perrine always encourages me in those moments when I feel like I’m too old and tired for this job.
In the World Cup, Clarey has finished 63 times in the top ten, and he has stood on the podium 11 times. Palander is amazed at how well the Frenchman has been able to stay at the top in sports that require a lot of courage.
– I don’t know how he has been able to take his career forward, but maybe he himself has gotten younger with it, when tough young people have joined the French team. Most have noticed before forty that they can no longer keep up with young people, Palander reflects.
– In speed sports, there is a fight with fear, the risk of injury and even the risk of death in some cases. As long as it’s comfortable and you’re not afraid, you can do it.
Even harsh and tangible experiences of the dangers of the sport have not made the Frenchman stop. National team mate David Poisson died in a training accident in Canada 2017. The Olympic silver in Beijing was dedicated to a good friend.
– As soon as I crossed the finish line I thought of David, Clarey stated after the race (you switch to another service).
“Freezing hard to slide”
Clarey’s trump card on the slopes has always been absolute speed. Ten years ago, he measured a record reading of 162 kilometers per hour in the Wengen descent, and according to Palander, the Frenchman is clearly the fastest in the world on easy sections.
– He is very hard to slide. It can be learned, but most people don’t learn it with age. You either have that skill or you don’t, and Clarey has had it.
Palander hasn’t seen any big changes in the Frenchman’s calculation over the years.
– After all, the slopes and course markings are basically the same every year, especially in those legendary places where races are held every year. He has always been good at driving lines and jumps.
In the Kitzbühel diving competition, he has placed second twice in a row. Palander was left puzzled by the January competition, where Aleksander Aamodt Kilde ruined Clarey’s dreams of winning. The Norwegian was 67 hundredths faster at his top speed.
– Kilde pulled a ghost bill. I was a bit of the opinion that Clarey deserved to win.
The last WC crunch in Courchevel
The success in Kitzbühel in recent years has not been a coincidence, as the track offers long sliding sections. Courchevel’s World Championship slope is quite new to everyone, but it may not suit Clarey’s characteristics.
Clarey has said that his long career will end this season. According to Palanderi, the culmination of decades of work to the World Cup gold, or even a medal in front of the home crowd, on Sunday is behind the hard work.
– Now we have to see how the training before the race goes and after that we can say a little about what kind of clips there are. I’m a little afraid that the medal may be in the thick of it.
Touring the alpine circus year after year requires both mental and physical capacity. Called the modest and likeable “grandfather” of the French team, Clarey has had enough power to continue pursuing his dreams.
– It’s absolutely absurd how he manages to live there, live in hotels, train and pamper himself. In those sports, you pull with a bit of fear at the limits of risk, and you can’t help but admire it, Palander enthuses.
The World Cup medals in tumbling will be fought for on Sunday, February 12. The broadcast starts at 11:55 on TV2.