Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen won the men’s Olympic downhill this Saturday, securing the first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Games. On the formidable Stelvio course in Bormio, the 24-year-old Swiss delivered a top-level performance in ideal conditions.
A controlled descent on the Stelvio
Franjo von Allmen completed the course in 1 min 51.61 s, a time that withstood the pressure from the favorites. Italian Giovanni Franzoni took the silver medal, while another Italian, Dominik Paris, 36 years old, claimed the bronze. This performance left Swiss Marco Odermatt just off the podium.
Swiss tradition continues
With this victory, Franjo von Allmen extends Swiss dominance in Olympic downhill. His compatriot Beat Feuz had won at the Beijing 2022 Games before retiring.
Often in the shadow of Marco Odermatt, four-time consecutive overall World Cup winner, Franjo von Allmen confirms his rise. The two Swiss share a relationship of friendship and sporting rivalry: they exchange information on the slopes while each keeps some secrets. On this demanding slope, von Allmen seemed to have the advantage.
The Olympic victory continues the momentum for Franjo von Allmen, already crowned in downhill at the World Championships held in Austria last winter.
Giovanni Franzoni, the Italian breakthrough
The packed stands especially cheered for Giovanni Franzoni. The 24-year-old skier, from Manerba del Garda, about 200 kilometers south of Bormio, is experiencing an exceptional period. On January 16, he won a World Cup super-G in Wengen, Switzerland, before winning the Kitzbühel downhill in Austria the following week.
Dominik Paris finally rewarded at the Games
Stelvio specialist, where he has won seven World Cup races, Dominik Paris knows every corner of the course. From Val d’Ultimo, about three hours’ drive from Bormio, he earns his first Olympic medal at his fifth Winter Games. Outside skiing, Dominik Paris is also the singer of a heavy metal band called “Rise of Voltage.”
Best American performance by Kyle Negomir
Wearing bib number 27, American Kyle Negomir found the right line and finished 10th, marking the best result for the United States in this event
