Niels Hintermann, downhill skiing star from Switzerland. © AFP / JOE KLAMAR

Controversial decision: row in the Swiss ski team

The Olympic Games are just around the corner – and there's unrest in the Swiss ski team. One downhill star is harshly criticizing his coaches.

February 04, 2026

From: det

The Olympic Games in Milan and Cortina will be officially opened on Friday, and the first major highlight is just a day later. That's when the downhill Olympic champion will be crowned in Bormio. But ahead of this spectacle, tensions are running high within the Swiss ski team.

Niels Hintermann, a Swiss downhill skier, lost his temper after the first downhill training run on Wednesday. Firstly, because he was more than two seconds slower than the fastest skier, Ryan Cochran-Siegle. Secondly, because he was absolutely furious about a decision made by the coaching staff.

"That's not okay!" Niels Hintermann

"What these gentlemen decided on Tuesday afternoon is not okay. It is not in the spirit of sport!" the 30-year-old told the press. View He gives free rein to his anger. What makes Hintermann so angry? It's the team's internal qualification, where he has to compete against Stefan Rogentin for the last starting place in the Olympic downhill.

No podium, no guaranteed starting place – or is that right?

“I have absolutely nothing against having to compete in this qualification, after all, I haven’t achieved a single podium finish this World Cup winter. But Alexis Monney also hasn’t managed a top-3 finish this season, yet he’s been selected,” said Hintermann.

Alexis Monney does not have to go through qualifying. © ANSA / ALESSANDRO DELLA VALLE

The Swiss skier explains: “Since I first participated in a major event at the World Championships in St. Moritz in 2017, the Swiss downhill team has always required athletes who didn't make it onto the podium in the World Cup to compete in a qualifying race during training. But now, unfortunately, they're suddenly starting something new.”

Monney can understand the frustration.

Monney and Hintermann are roughly equal in terms of results. Monney finished fifth once and achieved three other top-10 finishes (9th, 9th, 10th), while Hintermann has sixth and seventh place finishes. A plus for Monney: He won the downhill race in Bormio in 2024. Head coach Tom Staufer explained to Look: "The overall picture tipped the scales in favor of Alexis in this coaching decision."

Monney was surprised himself that he didn't have to go through qualifying. "I had already mentally prepared for qualifying; I was expecting a brutally tough week. But without the pressure of qualifying, I can obviously save a lot of energy. I can understand Hintermann's frustration, though; I'd be annoyed in his position too."