German alpine legend Hilde Gerg believes Wendy Holdener has what it takes to end Switzerland's 31-year wait for Olympic slalom gold in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The 1998 Nagano slalom champion sees the flat terrain of the Italian resort playing into Holdener's strengths as the Swiss veteran prepares for what could be her final shot at Olympic glory in the technical discipline.
Switzerland's drought in women's slalom at the Winter Olympics stretches back to 1994, when Vreni Schneider claimed gold in Lillehammer. Since then, Swiss skiers have come agonizingly close multiple times, with Holdener herself collecting silver in PyeongChang 2018 and bronze in Beijing 2022, but the top step of the podium has remained elusive.
Holdener's Experience on Flatter Terrain
Gerg's assessment focuses on the technical characteristics of the Cortina course, which features less vertical drop and flatter sections compared to some of the steeper Olympic venues of recent years. These conditions typically reward skiers with exceptional rhythm and flow rather than pure aggression, qualities that have defined Holdener's career.
The 31-year-old Swiss racer has built her reputation on consistency and technical precision. With two Olympic medals already in her collection and multiple World Championship podiums, Holdener enters the 2026 Games as one of the most experienced slalom specialists in the field.
Breaking the Swiss Slalom Curse
The weight of expectation on Swiss shoulders has grown with each passing Olympics. Schneider's triumph three decades ago came during an era of Swiss dominance in women's technical skiing, but the nation has struggled to reclaim that crown despite producing talented slalom racers year after year.
Holdener represents Switzerland's best chance to finally break through. Her career trajectory mirrors that of many late-blooming slalom specialists who find their peak form in their early thirties, when experience and technical mastery combine with still-sharp physical abilities.
With Gerg's endorsement adding to the chorus of support, all eyes will be on the Cortina slalom course when the Swiss veteran takes her run, carrying the hopes of a nation seeking to end one of the sport's longest Olympic droughts.
