Franjo von Allmen Brings Switzerland Its First Gold of the 2026 Olympics

The Swiss national team claimed the first gold medal of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games, opening the tournament’s medal count. The host nation, Italy, also made a strong start, winning two medals right away.

On the morning of February 7, the first set of medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics was awarded. The men competed in the alpine skiing downhill event.

The new Olympic champion was Franjo von Allmen. The 24-year-old Swiss skier, the 2025 world champion, made a brilliant debut at his first Olympic Games, immediately stepping onto the top of the podium.

Meanwhile, the reigning Olympic champion from the 2022 Games, Marco Odermatt, finished just outside the medals in fourth place. The home advantage also played a significant role: Italian alpine skiers delivered an outstanding performance on home snow, managing to beat the favorite and secure two medals.

The competition took place on the legendary and extremely demanding Bormio course. During the runs, athletes reached speeds exceeding 140 km/h, requiring maximum focus and skill. There were incidents as well: French skier Maxence Muzaton suffered a serious crash and failed to finish, but fortunately avoided major injuries.

Results. Men’s Downhill:
Franjo von Allmen (Switzerland) — Gold
Giovanni Franzoni (Italy) — Silver
Dominik Paris (Italy) — Bronze
Marco Odermatt (Switzerland)
Alexis Monney (Switzerland)

As a result, Switzerland secured the first Olympic gold of the Games, while Italy delighted its fans with two medals on the opening day of competition.

Schedule of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games competitions for February 7