2026 Olympic Alpine Skiing Men's Giant Slalom Prediction & Preview
Updated July 9, 2026
The men’s giant slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo going to be contested by a handful of elite technical specialists. The question going into this event is whether or not anyone can derail the established order on one of the sport’s biggest stages. Before the action begins in this staple Olympic event, you will find my Olympic alpine skiing men's giant slalom prediction below.
Outright markets released by major sportsbooks list the following favorites in this event:
The headline storyline centers on whether Marco Odermatt can convert his World Cup dominance into Olympic gold. The Swiss star has built an extraordinary record in giant slalom, regularly winning by decisive margins and maintaining top-3 consistency in nearly every start over the last 2 seasons. However, he fell short of gold in Beijing 2022 in this event and will try to make up for that here.
The venue also adds intrigue. The 2026 Winter Olympics will stage alpine events in Cortina d'Ampezzo, a location with a long World Cup history and variable snow conditions. Cortina courses often reward skiers who manage terrain changes cleanly and maintain rhythm across rolling sections. That profile suits technical skiers with strong edge control rather than pure risk-takers.
Another major angle is the resurgence of Norway’s technical squad. Henrik Kristoffersen returned to winning form in giant slalom during the 2024–25 World Cup season, stacking podium finishes and cutting into Odermatt’s points lead. Teammate Alexander Steen Olsen has emerged as a legitimate podium threat after earning multiple top-3 results this season. Norway’s depth raises the likelihood that one of their racers capitalizes if the favorite falters.
Switzerland’s depth is another factor. Loic Meillard has consistently hovered near the podium in giant slalom and slalom, and his technical versatility gives him adaptability on difficult slopes. In Olympic racing, where two runs decide everything, adaptability often outweighs outright speed.
Marco Odermatt
The statistical leader in giant slalom over the past 2 seasons, Odermatt’s win rate in World Cup GS starts since 2024 sits near 40%, with podium finishes in more than 70% of races. His ability to post the fastest second run after leading the first has become a signature trait. From a betting standpoint, that consistency justifies his short price.
Henrik Kristoffersen
Kristoffersen’s 2025 campaign included several podium finishes and at least 1 victory in GS. He excels on steeper, icier surfaces, and Cortina’s January conditions can favor his precise style. If the course is set tighter, his quick transitions could narrow the gap with Odermatt.
Loic Meillard
Meillard’s strength lies in clean execution across both runs. He may lack Odermatt’s outright edge, yet his DNF rate is lower than many rivals. In a 2-run Olympic format, simply finishing both runs at 98% of maximum speed can secure a medal.
Alexander Steen Olsen
The young Norwegian has posted breakthrough podiums in 2025. His aggressive line choice carries higher variance, making him attractive for each-way or podium bets rather than outright gold wagers.
Filip Zubcic
Zubcic remains a reliable top-10 skier with occasional podium upside. His experience could matter if conditions deteriorate between runs.
Pick: Marco Odermatt to win Gold ATS PRO
Confidence: 4 out of 5
From a pure numbers standpoint, the case is straightforward. Odermatt leads the discipline standings again in 2025–26 and continues to post the fastest average run times across varied terrain. His margin of victory in several recent races exceeded 0.50 seconds, a significant gap in giant slalom.
The main argument against him is Olympic volatility. A single mistake can erase a season’s worth of dominance. Yet compared with his rivals, Odermatt makes fewer technical errors and usually has greater composure after the first run. Kristoffersen is capable of matching him on certain surfaces, but his season-long consistency lags slightly behind. I'm going to take Odermatt to get the job done here for the gold.
