Men’s Downhill and Ilia Malinin Highlight Day 1 of Milan Cortina Olympics

The Milan Cortina Olympics officially commenced with the men’s downhill event in alpine skiing, marking Day 1 of the Games. This thrilling competition is set to take center stage on Saturday at the Stelvio Ski Center in Bormio.

Key Events and Athletes to Watch

Alongside the men’s downhill, figure skating and cross-country skiing will showcase prominent athletes, including Ilia Malinin and Jessie Diggins. Both sports promise excitement and fierce competition.

Men’s Downhill Overview

• Date and Time: Scheduled for Saturday at 11:30 a.m. local time (10:30 GMT, 5:30 a.m. ET).
• Favorites: Swiss teammates Marco Odermatt and Franjo von Allmen are expected to perform strongly.
• Local Hope: Dominik Paris is looking for his first Olympic medal in his fifth Games.
• Notable Competitors: Giovanni Franzoni and Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who recently topped the opening training session.

Ilia Malinin in Figure Skating

Ilia Malinin, a two-time reigning world champion, is a leading contender for gold in figure skating. He is set to perform his short program during the team event, which begins at 7:45 p.m. local time (6:45 GMT, 1:45 p.m. ET).

The U.S. team currently leads the competition, ahead of Japan and Italy. The figure skating event will also feature Madison Chock and Evan Bates in the free dance.

Jessie Diggins in Cross-Country Skiing

Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins, competing in her fourth Olympics, aims to add to her medal collection. She has won a gold, silver, and bronze in previous games.

• Event: She will compete in the 20-kilometer skiathlon, beginning at 1 p.m. local time (12:00 GMT, 7:00 a.m. ET).
• Location: The event takes place in Val di Fiemme in the Dolomites.

Women’s Hockey Action

The women’s hockey preliminary rounds are underway. The U.S. team started strong with a 5-1 victory over Czechia and will face Finland next.

• Date: Scheduled for Saturday at 4:40 p.m. local time (3:40 GMT, 10:40 a.m. ET).
• Concerns: Finland’s roster has been affected by a norovirus outbreak, causing previous game postponements.
• Other Matches Scheduled: Switzerland vs. Canada, Sweden vs. Italy, and Germany vs. Japan.

With a packed agenda for Day 1 of the Milan Cortina Olympics, fans can anticipate thrilling performances across multiple disciplines.