Italians Triumph with Medals on Opening Day of Milan Cortina Olympics
The opening day of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics marked a significant achievement for the host nation, Italy, which secured a gold, silver, and bronze medal. The day commenced with Switzerland’s Franjo Von Allmen earning the first gold medal of the Games in the men’s downhill.
Italy’s Opening Day Success
Italian speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida delivered a spectacular performance on her 35th birthday, claiming Italy’s first gold medal in the 3,000 meters. This victory also marked Italy’s first gold in women’s speedskating at any Winter Olympics. Competing in her fourth Olympics, Lollobrigida outpaced Norway’s Ragne Wiklund to secure the historic win. Previously, she had garnered silver and bronze medals in Beijing.
Alpine Skiing: Silver and Bronze for Italy
The Italian Alpine skiing team also had a remarkable day. Giovanni Franzoni won silver, while Dominik Paris took home bronze in the men’s downhill event. Although they were unable to surpass Von Allmen’s winning time of 1 minute, 51.61 seconds, their podium finishes were significant achievements for the team.
Lindsey Vonn’s Return
American skier Lindsey Vonn showed resilience, completing another downhill training run after recently tearing her left ACL. Vonn finished in third position and expressed confidence, stating, “all good,” despite wearing a knee brace.
Figure Skating Team Event Highlights
In the figure skating team event, Japan’s Yuma Kagiyama made headlines with a near-perfect performance, scoring 108.67 points. His efforts put Team Japan in a competitive position against the defending champions, the United States. Malinin, the reigning world champion, managed a score of 98.00, while a stellar free skate by Madison Chock and Evan Bates boosted the U.S. score to 44 points.
Disappointment for American Skiers
Not all American athletes found success on the first day. Cross-country skier Jessie Diggins finished eighth in the women’s skiathlon event, 2 minutes behind the leader, Frida Karlsson of Sweden. Diggins cited a crash on her first lap as a significant setback during the race.
Other Notable Events
- U.S. Women’s Hockey: The U.S. team dominated Finland, winning 5-0, while U.S. Vice President JD Vance and influencer Jake Paul attended the game.
- Women’s Ski Jumping: Norway secured its first gold medal in the women’s ski jumping event, with Anna Odine Stroem defeating Slovenian favorite Nika Prevc. Japan’s Nozomi Maruyama took home the bronze.
- Men’s Snowboarding: In men’s snowboarding big air, Japan’s Kira Kimura won gold, with teammate Ryoma Kimata earning silver. Defending champion Su Yiming of China claimed the bronze.
The opening day of the Milan Cortina Olympics reflects Italy’s strong start in defending its home ground, setting the stage for a thrilling competition in the coming days.
