Milano Cortina 2026 opens medal race as Franjo von Allmen delivers first gold
The Olympics in Milano Cortina 2026 moved from ceremony to medals fast on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, with alpine skiing already producing a signature moment: Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen won the men’s downhill to claim the first gold medal of these Winter Olympics. The result set an early tone for a Games built on speed events and tight margins, as cross-country and speed skating also began shaping the first-day medal picture.
For host Italy, early podium finishes have helped lift the mood across the split-venue footprint, where city sessions in Milan and mountain races in the Alps are sharing attention from hour to hour.
Milano Cortina 2026: first gold comes in downhill
Von Allmen’s downhill win came on the Stelvio course in Bormio, one of the most demanding tracks in the sport. He stopped the clock in 1:51.61, beating Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni (silver) and Italy’s Dominik Paris (bronze). The upset also pushed favored Swiss teammate Marco Odermatt off the podium.
Downhill is often the sport’s purest test of nerve: one aggressive line can become the winning difference, and one slightly late edge can end a medal run. Von Allmen’s performance mattered beyond the stopwatch because it immediately put Switzerland on top of the gold column and signaled that these Games may not follow pre-tournament favorites as neatly as predicted.
Winter Olympics medals: early leaders and momentum
With only a small number of medal events completed, the standings are volatile, but early medals still carry weight: they set expectations, drive media pressure, and shape how teams manage risk over the first week.
One of the day’s clearest statements came in the women’s skiathlon, where Sweden produced a 1–2 finish. Frida Karlsson won gold and Ebba Andersson took silver, with Norway’s Heidi Weng earning bronze. The gaps were large enough to look like more than a tactical shuffle—Sweden simply had more pace when the race opened up.
In speed skating, Italy’s Francesca Lollobrigida set an Olympic record in the women’s 3,000m, posting 3:54.28. The home-ice record added a second major “crowd moment” to the first full day of competition and reinforced the idea that hosts can convert energy into performance when the schedule cooperates.
Day 1 medal highlights (Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026)
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine skiing: Men’s downhill | Franjo von Allmen (Switzerland) | Giovanni Franzoni (Italy) | Dominik Paris (Italy) |
| Cross-country: Women’s skiathlon | Frida Karlsson (Sweden) | Ebba Andersson (Sweden) | Heidi Weng (Norway) |
| Speed skating: Women’s 3,000m | Francesca Lollobrigida (Italy) | Not publicly confirmed here | Not publicly confirmed here |
Olympics today: what fans are tracking beyond medals
Even on Day 1, much of “Olympics today” is about positioning for finals. Freeski slopestyle qualifying, for example, is already forcing risk decisions—athletes must decide whether to put down a safe run to advance or chase higher difficulty early and accept the crash risk.
Team events are also starting to define narratives before the public feels it. A strong early run in curling or a clean start in hockey group play can determine matchups later, when fatigue and pressure spike.
Across venues, organizers face a parallel challenge: keeping transport and timing reliable. A Games spread across Milan and multiple mountain clusters rewards teams with disciplined routines—and punishes anyone whose margins disappear in transit.
What time is it in Milan and Cortina?
Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo share the same local time. In February they operate on Central European Time, which is 6 hours ahead of Eastern Time.
So, if it’s 12:00 p.m. ET, it’s 6:00 p.m. in Milan and Cortina.
Why Franjo von Allmen’s win changes the feel of Week 1
Early gold medals can reshape how a team approaches the next wave. For Switzerland, starting with downhill gold reduces pressure on other alpine athletes who may have been expected to carry the first headline. For Italy, the silver-and-bronze double in the same race is the kind of emotional boost that can ripple into other sports, especially in events where confidence matters as much as form.
The forward look is simple and grounded in schedule reality: as more speed events arrive—short track, long track, sliding—fans should expect volatile podiums and tiny time gaps. If conditions stay stable, the biggest separator may be who manages nerves and logistics best, not who looks strongest on paper.
Sources consulted: International Olympic Committee, Olympics.com, Reuters, Associated Press
