Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland produced an inspirational display in winning the first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympics at the Milano Cortina Games. This was in the men’s downhill event, considered the blue ribbon of the sport, on Saturday, February 7, at the iconic Stelvio Ski Centre. Franjo von Allmen is a young Alpine skier aged only 24.
Franjo von Allmen Dominates Alpine Skiing’s Premier Event
The performance recorded by Von Allmen was remarkable, considering it was a clocking of 1:51.61 on one of the most daunting downhill tracks in the world. The reigning world downhill champion for 2025 managed the high-speed sections and tight turns with great precision and authority, securing his first Olympic gold in golden fashion.
“This race was a great victory for me. It’s my fifth gold medal in the Olympic Games in the downhill event. It’s an incredible feeling. The last time a Swiss skier did that was Beat Feuz at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2022, and then he decided to retire. I’m happy to follow in his footsteps and do that.”
Italy Celebrates First Medals of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games
The home crowd had plenty to cheer as Italy took silver and bronze for its first medals of the 2026 Winter Olympics. Giovanni Franzoni took the silver in 1:51.81, only 0.20 seconds behind the winner.
Completing the podium was veteran skier Dominik Paris, a bronze medalist in 1:52.11, 0.50 seconds behind. Their performances gave Italy a strong and encouraging start at their home Games.
Franjo von Allmen Reacts After Historic Olympic Gold
Speaking after completing the race, Von Allmen described his experience as follows: “It is a bit surreal, to be honest. Not easy to put into words. It was like a movie.”
The Swiss star also revealed his strategy, highlighting the importance of relaxing and having fun. The champion mentioned that staying relaxed, trusting his training, and skiing were all important factors in his victorious performance.
A Golden Start to the 2026 Winter Olympics
Thus, Franjo von Allmen would sum off his tournament victories by securing gold at his first-ever Winter Olympics competition. While there could be many successes awaiting von Allmen’s career path, this dominating victory at the 2026 Winter Olympics is sure to remain a close favorite for Franjo within his storied sports resume.
As the Milano Cortina games continue, von Allmen’s historic win sets the stage for what is shaping up to be an Olympic fortnight to remember.
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