“It’s a shame”: Odermatt loses his successful coach

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Until the summer of 2016, there were some experts who assessed Marco Odermatt as “too weak for a major racing career” due to his physique. But then giant slalom head coach Helmut Krug lured his old companion Kurt Kothbauer to Swiss-Ski as a fitness coach.

The former shot putter and discus thrower Kothbauer, who trained Hermann Maier at ÖSV in the 1990s, has transformed the delicate Odermatt into an impressively muscular beast in a relatively short time. Two years ago, Kothbauer proudly announced in an interview with Blick that “Marco can keep up with the maximum power values ​​that Hermann Maier achieved in his very best times.”

Odermatt needs new input

Odermatt has repeatedly emphasized how important the mill from Upper Austria is to him. “I owe a huge amount to Kurti, his training methods are absolutely brilliant.” But after this gala winter, the dream duo will go their separate ways: Kothbauer is looking for a new challenge. «In my opinion, I got the most out of Marco. I don’t know how I could make it any better. And that is why Marco needs new input from another trainer. And I will look for an athlete with whom I can really do better.”

What does Odermatt say about this decision? “It’s a real shame, because Kurti and I worked perfectly together. But after working together for almost eight years, I can also understand that Kurti is looking for a new challenge.”

Source : Blick