BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Franjo von Allmen announced his arrival on the Olympic stage in emphatic fashion on Saturday, capturing the men’s downhill title at the Milan Cortina Games and delivering Switzerland the first gold medal of the Winter Olympics. Racing in his Olympic debut, the 24-year-old produced a fearless, controlled run down the famed Stelvio course in Bormio, stopping the clock at 1 minute, 51.61 seconds to secure the most coveted prize in alpine skiing.
The victory crowned a remarkable personal journey for von Allmen, whose career once hung in the balance. As a teenager, following the death of his father, financial hardship threatened to end his racing ambitions. Lacking the resources to continue competing, he turned to crowdfunding, raising enough support to stay in the sport and earn a place on Switzerland’s national C team. Less than a decade later, he now stands atop the Olympic podium as the sport’s newest downhill champion.
On a crisp, sunlit day in the Italian Alps, von Allmen attacked the demanding course with confidence and precision, navigating its steep pitches and punishing turns to fend off a late challenge from the home favorites. Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni finished just 0.20 seconds behind to claim silver, while veteran Dominik Paris completed a rousing Italian showing by taking bronze. Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt, the dominant force on the World Cup circuit in recent years, narrowly missed the podium.
“I had fun with the skiing today,” von Allmen said afterward, underscoring the calm mindset that carried him through the pressure of his first Olympic start.
His ascent has been steady rather than sudden. After reviving his career through grassroots support, von Allmen showcased his potential by winning three silver medals at the 2022 junior world championships in Canada, including one in downhill. Last winter, he confirmed his arrival among the elite by winning the downhill at the world championships in Austria. At the Olympics, he relied on the same ski technician who worked with Beat Feuz during Feuz’s gold-medal run at the Beijing Games in 2022, a connection that appears to have paid dividends.
Asked about the hardships he overcame early in his career, von Allmen made it clear he prefers to look forward rather than back. Speaking through a translator, he said that chapter of his life was closed and that his focus is firmly on what lies ahead.
Former Olympic champion Aksel Lund Svindal of Norway had identified von Allmen as a serious contender before the race, impressed by his form in the final World Cup events leading into the Games. Watching from Cortina, where he is part of Lindsey Vonn’s coaching team, Svindal said the performance came as no surprise, describing it as the skiing of an athlete at the peak of his confidence.
Within the Swiss team, von Allmen often operates slightly in the shadow of Odermatt, who has captured four consecutive overall World Cup titles. The two are close friends and respectful rivals, sharing insights on courses while holding back just enough to preserve a competitive edge. On this occasion, von Allmen appeared to have the better feel for the hill.
“I had a good feeling,” Odermatt said. “But it was just not fast enough.”
The atmosphere in Bormio reflected the significance of the moment. The grandstands were filled with flag-waving spectators, and the loudest cheers erupted for Franzoni and Paris as they delivered a double podium for the host nation. For Franzoni, the silver medal capped a stunning breakout season that has unfolded largely in the past month. Since mid-January, the 24-year-old has claimed World Cup victories in super-G at Wengen and downhill at Kitzbühel, establishing himself as Italy’s newest alpine star.
Sharing the Olympic podium with Paris carried special meaning. Franzoni had told the seasoned veteran earlier in the season that standing together on a podium would be something special. That vision became reality on the sport’s grandest stage.
“I don’t know if he’ll continue racing next year, but this is the biggest stage to share,” Franzoni said. “He gives me a lot of tips. He’s a legend, and it’s an honor to be on this team.”
For Paris, the bronze medal marked a long-awaited Olympic breakthrough. Competing in his fifth Winter Games, the 36-year-old finally added an Olympic medal to a career that includes seven World Cup victories on the Stelvio course. After receiving his medal, he looked back up the mountain with appreciation.
“It’s a beautiful, tough mountain,” said Paris, who hails from Val d’Ultimo.
Paris is also known for an off-slope passion that sets him apart: he is the vocalist of a heavy metal band called Rise of Voltage. Asked to compare his talents, he laughed.
“I’m for sure a better skier,” he said. “But if you listen to metal, I’m not so bad.”
The United States placed one skier inside the top 10, with Kyle Negomir delivering a strong performance to finish 10th after finding a fast, aggressive line down the course. For Negomir, the result was less about medals and more about execution.
“My goal was to put down something where I could stand in the finish and say I didn’t have any regrets,” he said.
As the Milan Cortina Games opened their alpine program, von Allmen’s gold set an early benchmark and a powerful tone, signaling not only the emergence of a new Olympic champion but also the culmination of a journey defined by resilience, belief and unwavering commitment to the sport.
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