In a moment of pure hometown magic, 22-year-old Swiss skier Malorie Blanc delivered a stunning breakthrough performance to secure her maiden Audi FIS Alpine Ski World Cup win in the super-G race at Crans-Montana on Saturday, January 31, 2026.
Starting from bib 17 on the Mont Lachaux course, Blanc produced a flawless, aggressive run clocked at 1:17.34, edging out pre-race favorite and 2018 Olympic downhill champion Sofia Goggia (Italy) by a razor-thin 0.18 seconds. American Breezy Johnson rounded out the podium in third place, 0.36 seconds back, marking her first career World Cup super-G podium.
The victory marked Blanc’s second-ever World Cup podium — following a runner-up finish in downhill in St. Anton last year — and came in what was only her breakthrough season at the elite level. A two-time junior world champion (super-G and team combined in 2024), the Valais native from nearby Ayent grew up skiing these very slopes, making the triumph especially poignant.
“I am so happy that I could deliver this show. It’s really a gift for the people and their support,” Blanc said afterward, visibly emotional as the sold-out crowd erupted in celebration.
The race provided a much-needed lift for the Crans-Montana community, coming just a month after a tragic New Year’s fire at a local bar claimed 40 lives and injured over 100 others. Events throughout the weekend were scaled back in respect, with racers wearing black armbands to honor the victims. Blanc’s win offered a powerful symbol of resilience and joy on home soil.
The super-G served as the final women’s Alpine event before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, which begin next week. Blanc, set to represent Switzerland in downhill and super-G, now heads into the Games with surging momentum and the confidence of a proven winner.
Saturday’s brilliant sunshine and ideal conditions contrasted sharply with Friday’s fog-shortened and canceled downhill, which saw multiple crashes — including one that sidelined American legend Lindsey Vonn with a left knee injury.
Blanc’s efficient line, combining speed in the upper sections with precise handling in the technical finish, proved unbeatable. She trailed Goggia at the final intermediate but surged ahead in the closing gates, vaulting into the leader’s box and sparking wild cheers from the Swiss faithful.
With her first World Cup crystal globe now in sight — and Olympic dreams ahead — Malorie Blanc has announced herself as a rising force in speed skiing. For Crans-Montana and Swiss fans everywhere, this was more than a race win; it was a heartfelt homecoming triumph. 🇨🇭🏆
