Franjo Von Allmen Wins First Olympic Gold In Men's Downhill
Von Allmen won the men's downhill in 1:51.61 at Bormio's Stelvio course to claim the first gold of the Milan Cortina Games.
Overview
Swiss racer Franjo von Allmen won the men's downhill at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio in 1 minute, 51.61 seconds on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, to claim the first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics, official results show.
The victory kept the Olympic downhill title in the Swiss family and reshaped early medal standings on the first official day of competition at the 2026 Games, an outcome noted by organizers and national teams.
Giovanni Franzoni, 24, finished 0.20 seconds behind to take silver and Dominik Paris, 36, earned bronze, with Paris saying it was "really special" after earning his first Olympic medal in his fifth Games, according to his post-run remarks.
A field of 36 skiers started the race, and official results show Kyle Negomir finished 10th in 1:53.20 while Bryce Bennett, Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Sam Morse placed 13th, 18th and 19th; accounts differ on Dominik Paris's prior Bormio World Cup wins (six or seven).
Von Allmen said he felt "like a movie" after the win and organizers said competition will continue with cross-country events in Tesero and additional Bormio races as the Olympic schedule moves forward.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the opening day as a feel-good, host-country success narrative, using celebratory language (e.g., "tricolor day", "picture-perfect"), foregrounding Italian human-interest details (Lollobrigida’s birthday and famed aunt), and curating athlete reactions as supporting color. Structural choices prioritize host medals and atmosphere while giving limited broader competitive context.
Sources (7)
FAQ
Giovanni Franzoni of Italy won silver, finishing 0.20 seconds behind, and Dominik Paris of Italy won bronze, 0.50 seconds behind.
Franjo von Allmen, born July 24, 2001, in Boltigen, Switzerland, is 24 years old and specializes in downhill and super-G alpine skiing.
He won his first World Cup in super-G in Wengen in January 2025, two golds at the 2025 World Championships in downhill and team combined, and multiple junior and European Cup medals.
Kyle Negomir finished 10th in 1:53.20, Bryce Bennett 13th, Ryan Cochran-Siegle 18th, and Sam Morse 19th.
He said it felt 'like a movie' and that he focused on solid skiing without overpushing.
History
4 sources