Franjo von Allmen claims gold in historic Milano Cortina Games opening event. In a stunning display of speed and skill, Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen powered through the challenging downhill course at Bormio to claim the first-ever gold medal of the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games.
Von Allmen's blistering time of 1 minute, 51.61 seconds left his competitors in the dust as Italy's Giovanni Franzoni took silver with a margin of just 0.2 seconds, while Dominik Paris claimed bronze in what was a thrilling team effort by Italy.
Meanwhile, Team Sweden dominated the women's skiathlon event at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Frida Karlsson powered to victory, completing the 20-kilometer course in 53 minutes and 45.2 seconds, with teammate Ebba Andersson finishing a respectable 51 seconds later.
Karlsson's impressive win marks the fourth consecutive time a Swedish or Norwegian woman has claimed the skiathlon gold medal at the Winter Olympics. Jessie Diggins of Team USA finished eighth, more than three minutes behind Karlsson in what was an event marked by several strong performances from top athletes around the world.
As the Milano Cortina Games continue to unfold, one thing is clear: this Winter Olympics are shaping up to be a thrilling and unpredictable event that will keep fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
Von Allmen's blistering time of 1 minute, 51.61 seconds left his competitors in the dust as Italy's Giovanni Franzoni took silver with a margin of just 0.2 seconds, while Dominik Paris claimed bronze in what was a thrilling team effort by Italy.
Meanwhile, Team Sweden dominated the women's skiathlon event at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium in Val di Fiemme, Italy. Frida Karlsson powered to victory, completing the 20-kilometer course in 53 minutes and 45.2 seconds, with teammate Ebba Andersson finishing a respectable 51 seconds later.
Karlsson's impressive win marks the fourth consecutive time a Swedish or Norwegian woman has claimed the skiathlon gold medal at the Winter Olympics. Jessie Diggins of Team USA finished eighth, more than three minutes behind Karlsson in what was an event marked by several strong performances from top athletes around the world.
As the Milano Cortina Games continue to unfold, one thing is clear: this Winter Olympics are shaping up to be a thrilling and unpredictable event that will keep fans on the edge of their seats until the very end.
, i mean, he was so far ahead of everyone else it was like he was skiing in slow motion compared to the rest. i'm loving the underdog story here and Team Sweden killing it on the women's skiathlon event too 
, Frida Karlsson is like a total rockstar!
! Like, Franjo von Allmen's time was super suspiciously fast, almost like he had a rocket boost or somethin' 
? And what's up with Italy takin' silver and bronze so close together? It sounds like they were workin' together, maybe even have a secret team effort goin' on 
? I mean, I know the Italians are known for their skill in skiing, but this is just too convenient... 
. And don't even get me started on Team Sweden's dominance in the women's skiathlon event - it's like they're tryin' to send a message or somethin' 
? I'm watchin' these games with my popcorn and seein' if there are any more plot twists comin' our way... 
! I mean, who knew Switzerland had it in them? The Italian guys put up a good fight, but Von Allmen was on fire 
. And those Swedish women are DOMINATING the cross-country skiing events - Frida Karlsson is a total rockstar 
! Can't wait to see what else this Winter Olympics has in store for us. The suspense is killing me 
. I mean Franjo von Allmen's gold medal win is super impressive, but what really got me was watching Dominik Paris's reaction after securing bronze - it looked so emotional! 
Italy's been doing well this time around too, can't wait to see how the rest of the games play out 
. And have you seen Frida Karlsson in action? She's like a Swedish Winter Olympics legend already 
. The skiathlon event was so captivating I forgot all about Jessie Diggins' struggles 
- Sweden's got some serious skiing skills! 
This Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen's gold medal win at the Milano Cortina Games got me thinking about how our nation's investments in sports infrastructure are making a difference, just like how Italy's focus on developing its skiing industry is paying off here. Meanwhile, Team Sweden's dominance in the women's skiathlon event highlights the importance of public funding for winter sports programs. Is it fair to say that countries that prioritize their athletes' training and competition experiences are more likely to reap rewards at international events? 
Franjo von Allmen is my ultimate crush, and he totally slayed the downhill course! 1:51.61 sec is insane!!! 
I've been following him on social media for ages, and this is his moment to shine 
. Giovanni Franzoni's silver was close, but Team Italy still rocks 
. Frida Karlsson is my new idol too, she's so fierce on the slopes 
and dominik paris with bronze too, team italy's doin it again! 
and america's jessie diggins is still bringin that fire 
But seriously, the competition was fierce and it's awesome to see Italy bringing home those medals. Sweden's Frida Karlsson is on fire too - 4th time a charm for them in skiathlon! 
️ And can't wait to see what other surprises these Milano Cortina Games have in store for us... maybe a medal for Team USA? 
, can't wait to see what the rest of it has in store for us! 
. Sweden's dominance is exciting to watch, can't wait to see what else they have up their sleeve! 
1:51.61 is insane! and that italian team effort is giving me life 
. gotta keep an eye on these athletes, they're making the milano cortina games so exciting! 
. Jessie Diggins of Team USA wasn't as lucky though, finished 8th 
.
that's some serious fan power in action! 
