Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen blazed to victory in the men’s Olympic downhill at Bormio on Saturday, claiming the first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.
The 24-year-old reigning world champion hit speeds of 145 km/h (90 mph) to complete the punishing Stelvio course in 1min 51.61sec, edging out the Italian duo of Giovanni Franzoni (+0.20sec) and Dominik Paris (+0.50).
Pre-race favourite and von Allmen’s Swiss teammate, Marco Odermatt, could manage only fourth place.
“It feels like a movie,” said von Allmen. “My secret is to enjoy skiing! I was relaxed this morning and tried to keep the good feelings… Skiing must be fun. We all ski because it’s fun. That has to come first, whether it’s skiing or any profession, because you have to do it every day.”
Franzoni, also 24, admitted to early nerves. “I saw the runs from the Swiss guys; they were getting better and better. I thought it would be hard to beat them, but I skied really well. It’s cool to be part of a new generation of alpine skiers and to be on the podium.”
Alexis Monney, the first of the Swiss quartet to start, immediately took the lead off Austria’s Daniel Hemetsberger. Odermatt followed, claiming provisional top spot before von Allmen’s breathtaking run stole the show.
Launching more than 50 metres off one jump to gasps from the crowd, von Allmen delivered a majestic, low-crouching display of speed and precision, clinching his second World Cup downhill victory of the season and becoming the fifth Swiss men’s Olympic downhill champion since 1948, joining Beat Feuz, Didier Defago, Pirmin Zurbriggen, and Bernhard Russi.
Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr, the 2021 double speed world champion, was in pursuit but never threatened the Swiss trio.
Italians chase glory at home
The Italian racers, all with double-digit start numbers, provided a thrilling chase for the home crowd. Franzoni briefly led at the third interval, prompting chants of “Giovanni” from fans, but ultimately finished 0.20 seconds behind von Allmen.
Veteran Dominik Paris, a seven-time World Cup winner, delivered a slick run to claim bronze, his first Olympic medal in his fifth Winter Games. “Getting the first medal in front of the home crowd is really special,” Paris said.
Odermatt, seeking to add to his Beijing giant slalom gold, ended 0.20 seconds off the podium. “It’s fourth place, not what I was hoping for,” he said. “I had a good feeling, a good run, but it wasn’t fast enough. I don’t know what I could change if I had to do it again.”
Von Allmen’s triumph sets a strong precedent for the Swiss men’s team, which dominated last year’s World Championships in Saalbach, Austria. The squad now turns its focus to Monday’s Olympic team combined before the super-G on Wednesday.
AFP
