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Franjo von Allmen emerged victorious on the challenging slopes of Bormio, claiming the top spot on the podium.
WASHINGTON — In a thrilling display of skill, Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen clinched the Olympic downhill gold on Saturday, marking the first gold medal win at the Milan Cortina Games.
Under ideal conditions in Bormio, von Allmen sped down the demanding course, completing his run in an impressive 1 minute, 51.61 seconds.
His remarkable performance withstood a strong challenge from Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni, who secured the silver medal. Meanwhile, Franzoni’s compatriot, the seasoned 36-year-old Dominik Paris, delivered a swift run to claim the bronze, pushing Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt out of medal contention.
The U.S. skiers did not manage to reach the podium, with Kyle Negomir achieving the highest American finish in 10th place, trailing von Allmen by 1.59 seconds. Bryce Bennett finished 13th, just 1.84 seconds behind, while Ryan Cochran-Siegle and Sam Morse finished 18th and 19th, at 2.02 and 2.07 seconds behind, respectively.
Cochran-Siegle, competing in his third Winter Olympics, entered the men’s downhill after being fastest in the opening downhill training session earlier this week. He previously won silver in the super-G at the Beijing Games four years ago.
The course is one of the most physically demanding on the World Cup circuit, at almost 3,230 meters long with a 986-meter vertical drop and a maximum gradient of 63%.
Swiss skiers were among the favorites heading into the race, and world champion Franjo von Allmen delivered, winning the gold for Switzerland.
The home crowd also backed Dominik Paris, who was competing in his fifth Games and was looking for his first Olympic medal. The 36-year-old Italian is a Bormio specialist, having won a record six World Cup downhills there. Paris met expectations, earning bronze.