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.
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...
Police in riot gear pushed toward a group of protesters who launched fireworks, flares and smoke bombs during a demonstration in Milan on Saturday, as...
Train passengers across Italy faced delays of up to three hours on Saturday after suspected acts of sabotage disrupted rail infrastructure near the no...
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting dail...
Speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida has given host nation Italy its first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, winning the women’s 3,000 ...
Police in riot gear pushed toward a group of protesters who launched fireworks, flares and smoke bombs during a demonstration in Milan on Saturday, as the city hosted events on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Train passengers across Italy faced delays of up to three hours on Saturday after suspected acts of sabotage disrupted rail infrastructure near the northern city of Bologna, coinciding with the first full day of the Winter Olympic Games.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida has given host nation Italy its first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, winning the women’s 3,000 metres in Olympic-record time on Saturday.
Storm Leonardo hit Spain and Portugal on Tuesday, forcing more than 11,000 people from their homes, as a man in Portugal died after his car was swept away by floodwaters and a second body was found in Malaga.
Winter weather has brought air travel in the German capital to a complete halt, stranding thousands of passengers as severe icing conditions make runways and aircraft unsafe for operation and force authorities to shut down one of Europe’s key transport hubs.
An attacker opened fire at the gates of a Shiite Muslim mosque in Islamabad on Friday before detonating a suicide bomb that killed at least 31 people in the deadliest assault of its kind in the capital in more than a decade.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 6th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Greek authorities said they have arrested a member of the armed forces on suspicion of leaking highly sensitive military information to foreign handlers allegedly linked to China.
Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight on Saturday, marking the second such strike in less than a week, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Police in riot gear pushed toward a group of protesters who launched fireworks, flares and smoke bombs during a demonstration in Milan on Saturday, as the city hosted events on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Train passengers across Italy faced delays of up to three hours on Saturday after suspected acts of sabotage disrupted rail infrastructure near the northern city of Bologna, coinciding with the first full day of the Winter Olympic Games.
Speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida has given host nation Italy its first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, winning the women’s 3,000 metres in Olympic-record time on Saturday.
France and Canada opened new consulates in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, on Friday, stepping up their Arctic presence in a show of support for Denmark, a NATO ally, amid renewed demands by U.S. President Donald Trump to acquire the strategically located territory.
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