Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen and Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem claimed gold medals on Saturday, marking standout performances on the first full day of competition at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Von Allmen captured the first gold medal of the Games with a dominant victory in the men’s Alpine skiing downhill on the Stelvio slope, beating Swiss teammate and world number one Marco Odermatt by 0.70 seconds.
“It’s a crazy, crazy feeling, feels like a movie,” the 24-year-old said after the race. “I tried to see it as a normal ski race — like a World Cup race. But when I see the medal now, it’s a little bit more special. To start like this in the Olympics, it’s crazy.”
Von Allmen said staying relaxed was key to his performance on the demanding course.
“I started off relatively relaxed and took the whole thing easy,” he said. “Getting nervous wouldn’t have helped me anyway, and in the end, it turned out quite well.”
He added that the Olympic atmosphere felt surprisingly familiar. “Until today, it was actually relatively normal, a typical World Cup race. The atmosphere here is comparatively relaxed, but when you see the medals now, you notice the mood is different after all.”
Von Allmen’s path to Olympic success was far from straightforward. After losing his father at the age of 17, financial difficulties nearly ended his career. A trained carpenter, he turned to crowdfunding to fund another season, which ultimately led to his World Cup debut in 2023 and his rise to the top of the sport.
Meanwhile, Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem won gold in the women’s normal hill ski jumping event, highlighting her consistency, technical precision and years of dedication to the discipline.
The victory marks a major milestone in Stroem’s career and adds to Norway’s strong tradition in ski jumping. Competing under clear skies, Stroem delivered a composed performance to secure the top step of the podium.
With cowbells ringing, flags waving and early medals decided, the Milano Cortina Olympics opened with dramatic performances across Alpine skiing and ski jumping, setting the tone for the days of competition ahead.
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