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Out and about in the snow together: Marco Odermatt (left) and Jan Käslin in Airolo in 2004.
Marcel W. Perrenski reporter
Jan Käslin is a cousin of Marco Odermatt. The 26-year-old civil engineer and the Olympic champion grew up like brothers. “Marco’s mom and my mother are twin sisters. That’s why my brother, who is two years younger, and I spent a lot of time with Marco during our childhood.” Because the Käslin boys were also talented ski racers, they spent a large part of their free time in training camps.
Jan has a very special memory of a glacier camp in the Austrian Kaunertal. «In the evening I dueled with Marco at the table tennis box. The loser should buy a round of coke in the mountain restaurant the next day. Because the exchange of blows at the soccer box lasted much longer than planned, we arrived at the room too late. The trainer therefore gave us 100 push-ups as punishment. »
Also unforgettable for Käslin are the moments when he and his brother and little “Odi” hunted for autographs from the international ski stars on the glacier in Saas-Fee. «Because we thought that the Italian Peter Fill only speaks Italian, we asked him in sign language for a signature. That’s why we were totally amazed when he answered in the broadest South Tyrolean German…»
Now it’s Marco who, as a superstar, is constantly being asked for autographs and selfies. Nothing has changed at all in Jan’s relationship with his famous cousin. “Despite his gigantic successes, Marco has remained a down-to-earth, lovable person.”
A public holiday had to be brought forward by 24 hours in the Odermatt-Käslin clan because of the World Cup. “We used to celebrate Christmas together on December 25th. But since Marco has to travel to Bormio for the races on the 25th, the big family Christmas party will take place on December 24th.”
The party that Jan celebrated with Marco in 2017 after his first race at the World Cup race in Adelboden contained a very special point. “Marco went to the marquee with us after the race. Because only a few ski fans knew his face at the time, it was no problem. And when someone asked him whether he was a ski racer because of his Swiss Ski jacket and the sponsor’s cap, Marco said very coolly: “I’m the twin brother of a ski racer. I prefer to play golf myself…»
Unbelievable but true: In 2015 the selection of Marco Odermatt into the Swiss Ski squad was discussed in a highly controversial manner! “Marco’s FIS results weren’t outstanding at the time,” remembers Osi Inglin, who was the C squad coach at the time. “But there was something I particularly liked about Marco. And that’s why I enforced my trainer’s verdict that he was included in the C squad. There were some colleagues who couldn’t understand my decision at all.”
The performance of the native of Nidwalden soon proved the Schwyz resident right: “Marco didn’t really attract attention in the first training camps, but then he made huge strides in a very short time. And at the end of this season, Odi won gold in giant slalom and bronze in super-G at the Junior World Championships.”
Twelve months later, Inglin received proof that Odermatt is a particularly sensitive person. “My wife, who I previously used as a team therapist at the races in North America, has cancer. On the way to the Swiss Championships in Davos, Odi stopped by in Grüsch with his racing friend Marco Kohler to visit the sick. My wife was totally touched and said: ‹Incredible that two handsome young guys take such good care of an old thing like me…›»
In the fall before last, Inglin’s wife died of a brain tumor.
The brother of the Olympic champions Michelle and Dominique shared with Odermatt on the World Cup tour in North America in 2017. “On this occasion, Odi gave me a special example of his carefree nature and his enormous urge to move,” Gisin smiles. “Two pairs of vintage snowshoes hung on the wall of our bedroom in Panorama as decor. But Odi didn’t rest until we dismantled these parts and walked through the Canadian wilderness with them for about an hour. It was great fun! And of course we hung these vintage cars neatly on the wall afterwards.»
Attention ski fans! Now quiz and type races
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!
The 2022/2023 ski season is coming up and with it the “Blick Ski Trophy”: answer questions every day, type ski races and crown yourself as ski champion. Lots of great prizes await.
To take part in the “Blick Ski Trophy”, you have to register here.
Have fun and good luck!