Our special correspondent in Courchevel
Johan, how do you feel at the end of this descent?
John Clarey:
I wasn't invited at all today.
I knew it was going to be hard because the track wasn't really cut out for me at the start.
But I still tried to be positive throughout.
As since the beginning of the week and the training sessions, I didn't start quickly on the top.
I didn't have a great feeling on the top of the track and as soon as you find yourself 6 or 7 tenths behind, it's over.
Downhill you have to get going fast and I didn't.
Afterwards, I felt better in the middle but the step was too high.
I've been pulling the machine a lot over the past few months, and even years, and it's having trouble restarting.
But I still smile because it was a great opportunity to say goodbye to the French public.
And then my career was beautiful despite everything.
From this morning you had felt that this would not be your day…
Yes.
From the beginning of the week in fact, I felt that I was not in extraordinary shape.
Being in good shape at the right time, I succeeded a few times but at 42, you no longer necessarily control your physical and mental state in the same way.
Fatigue is harder to control.
And when you add to that the emotion of racing at home, the track that was not made for me, I really would have had to pull off a gigantic performance.
But I keep smiling because I don't have the right to sulk after having had the chance to experience the Worlds at home.
What will you remember from these last Worlds in your career?
I knew it was going to be tough, but hopefully I'll only take the positives and not the negatives.
I experienced some very good things this week all the same, less on the track but off it.
People were lovely to me, I got a lot of support.
And I thank everyone.
I want to remember that, and especially not the result.
What does the podium with Odermatt, Kilde and Alexander inspire in you?
I would have liked it to change with the passage of Maxence (Muzaton).
I lived like crazy, it was crazy.
My heart went up to 10,000 and I would have been so happy for Muzat'.
It would have been a great story for him who was only a substitute at the base.
As for Odermatt, in my eyes, he is the Roger Federer of skiing.
He manages to do things, even under pressure, that others will never be able to do.
Skiing geniuses, there weren't many, but he was one of them.
Machines, there were, but Marco is really a genius.
That's wonderful.
And then the track was cut out for him, curve after curve, commitment, madness in skiing, and a lot of talent.
Your end of the season isn't over yet…
Yes, it's true, and at the same time it's still a bit over (smile).
I will finish the season very relaxed, without putting any pressure.
I want to enjoy it, with zero goals.
I'm happy to live a few more moments with my friends, with the coaches, the staff... I'm really going to miss it.
So going to the United States is going to be a bit far but we're going to be among ourselves, it's going to be great.
