Marco Pfiffner
{{Short description|Swiss-born Liechtenstein alpine skier}}
{{Infobox alpine ski racer
| name = Marco Pfiffner
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| disciplines = Combined, downhill, giant slalom, slalom and Super-G
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| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1994|03|25|df=y}}
| birth_place = Walenstadt, Switzerland
| height = 1.91 m {{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/alpine-skiing/marco-pfiffner_prs345914/person.shtml|title=Marco Pfiffner|publisher=Eurosport|access-date=22 June 2022}}
| wcdebut = 2016
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| olympicteams = 3 - (2014, 2018, 2022)
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| worldsteams = 4 - (2011–2021)
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Marco Pfiffner (born 25 March 1994) is a Swiss born, professional alpine ski racer who represents Liechtenstein. He has competed for Liechtenstein at three Winter Olympic Games in 2014, 2018, and 2022.
Early life
Pfiffner was born in Walenstadt in the Swiss canton of St Gallen. He lives in Mauren and represents the Unterland Winter Sports Club (UWV).{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/marco-pfiffner-419766|title=Marco Pfiffner|publisher=NBC|access-date=22 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uwv.li/lsv-kader/|title=UWV Athletinnen und Athleten im Kader des Liechtensteinischen Skiverbandes|publisher=UWV|access-date=22 June 2022}}
Career
Pfiffner began competing in FIS races aged 15. In 2011, he participated in the Junior World Championships in Crans Montana, securing 43rd and 54th place finishes in the slalom and grand slalom.{{cite web|url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&competitorid=156277&raceid=63237|title=Crans Montana Giant Slalom|publisher=FIS|access-date=22 June 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&competitorid=156277&raceid=63239|title=Crans Montana Slalom|publisher=FIS|access-date=22 June 2022}} Weeks later, he took part in the World Championships at Garmisch Partenkirchen. He finished 72nd in the giant slalom and 53rd in the slalom events.{{cite web|url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/athlete-biography.html?sectorcode=AL&seasoncode=&competitorid=156277&type=result&categorycode=WSC&sort=&place=&disciplinecode=&position=&limit=100|title=Marco Pfiffner World Championship Results|publisher=FIS|access-date=22 June 2022}} He also competed in the 2013 World Championships in Schladming.
Pfiffner was part of the Liechtenstein Olympic Team at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. He scored a best finish of 24th place.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/winter/2014/athletes/_/athlete/50986|title=2014 Winter Olympics - Athletes|publisher=ESPN|access-date=22 June 2022}}
On 24 January 2016, he made his World Cup debut at Kitzbuhel. His early World Cup races were in the slalom and giant slalom disciplines.{{cite web|url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&competitorid=156277&raceid=82806|title=Kitzbuhel Mens Slalom 2016|publisher=FIS|access-date=22 June 2022}}
In 2017, Pfiffner raced in all disciplines at the World Championships in St Moritz. Securing 36th in the Super-G, 42nd in the Downhill, and 34th in the Combined event. His best result was 26th in the slalom. In January 2018, he won the European Cup Combined event in Saalbach-Hinterglemm. {{cite web|url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&competitorid=156277&raceid=91278|title=European Cup Mens Combined|publisher=FIS|access-date=22 June 2022}} {{cite web|url=https://www.neveitalia.it/sport/scialpino/maschile/news/marco-pfiffner-vince-la-combinata-di-coppa-europa-di-saalbach-hinterglemm|title=Marco Pfiffner vince la combinata di Coppa Europa di Saalbach-Hinterglemm|date=12 January 2018 |publisher=Neveitalia|access-date=22 June 2022}}
Pfiffner was the designed flag bearer for his second Olympic Games, in PyeongChang.{{cite web|url=https://www.liechtensteinusa.org/article/liechtenstein-competes-in-the-2018-winter-olympics-in-pyeongchang|title=Liechtenstein Competes in the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang|publisher=Liechtenstein USA|access-date=22 June 2022}} He competed in four races and secured a best result of 25th place in the slalom.{{cite web|url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/marco-pfiffner#b2p-athlete-olympic-results|title=Marco Pfiffner|publisher=Olympics|access-date=22 June 2022}}
In January 2020, Pfiffner scored his first FIS World Cup points with 29th place in the Labuerhorn Combination event in Wengen.{{cite web|url=https://www.fis-ski.com/DB/general/results.html?sectorcode=AL&competitorid=156277&raceid=100133|title=Wengen|publisher=FIS|access-date=22 June 2022}} He took part in the 2021 World Championships in Cortina D'Ampezzo.
Pfiffner was once again part of the Liechtenstein Olympic Team for the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China.{{cite web|url=https://www.lgt.com/en/news/marco-pfiffner-represents-the-colors-of-liechtenstein/#button2|title=Marco Pfiffner represents the colors of Liechtenstein|publisher=LGT|access-date=22 June 2022}} He finished 28th in both the Downhill and Super-G disciplines, and a career-high 11th place in the Combined.
Endorsements
Pfiffner is sponsored by the bank, LGT.{{cite web|url=https://www.lgt.com/en/about-us/sponsorship/ski-sports/|title=LGT sponsors skiing in Liechtenstein|publisher=LGT|access-date=22 June 2022}} He also utilises Salomon and Leki equipment.{{cite web|url=https://www.marcopfiffner.li/partner/|title=AUSRÜSTER|publisher=Marco Pfiffner|access-date=22 June 2022}}