Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland won the men’s alpine skiing downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics, claiming gold on the Stelvio course in Bormio on Saturday 7 February 2026. Von Allmen clocked 1:51.61 to edge Italian duo Giovanni Franzoni (silver, +0.20) and Dominik Paris (bronze, +0.50) in the first medal event of the Milano Cortina Games.
What is the Olympic Men’s Downhill?
The downhill is the blue-riband event of Olympic alpine skiing. It is the fastest discipline on the programme, with racers frequently exceeding 130 km/h as they tackle a single run down a long, steep course dotted with jumps and high-speed turns. Every skier takes the same line, and the fastest time wins. There is no second run, which makes the event a pure test of nerve, line choice and aerodynamic efficiency.
The men’s downhill is contested once every four years at the Winter Olympics and sits alongside the World Cup season as one of the sport’s two defining prizes. Winning Olympic downhill gold is widely regarded as the pinnacle of a male ski racer’s career.
When did the Men’s Downhill take place?
The race was held on Saturday 7 February 2026, the first full day of competition at the Milano Cortina Games. It was the opening medal event of the Olympics, starting shortly after 12:00 local time (CET) under cold and clear conditions on the Stelvio.
Where was it held?
The race took place at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, in Italy’s Lombardy region. The Stelvio is one of the most feared courses on the World Cup circuit, known for its steep pitches, sharp compressions and technical final section. It has hosted the annual Bormio World Cup downhill for decades and was chosen as the men’s speed venue for Milano Cortina 2026. Cortina d’Ampezzo staged the women’s events.
Results
Franjo von Allmen laid down a run of 1:51.61 to claim gold for Switzerland, averaging 111.022 km/h over the course. Home favourite Giovanni Franzoni produced the race of his career to take silver just 0.20 seconds back, with veteran Italian Dominik Paris capping the podium 0.50 seconds off the lead. All three medallists were first-time Olympic medallists.
World Cup overall leader Marco Odermatt, who had been considered the favourite, finished fourth in 1:52.31, missing the podium by two-tenths. Switzerland’s Alexis Monney was fifth, with Austrians Vincent Kriechmayr and Daniel Hemetsberger rounding out the top seven. France’s Nils Allègre was eighth, Canada’s James Crawford ninth and American Kyle Negomir tenth.
Background and form going in
Odermatt entered the Games as the heavy favourite after a dominant World Cup campaign, with Paris, Kriechmayr and Crawford all seen as podium threats. Von Allmen, 24, had emerged as a downhill specialist over the previous two seasons but was not among the pre-race picks. Franzoni’s silver was the bigger shock of the day, with the 24-year-old Italian producing a near-flawless run on a course he knows intimately.
History and records
Switzerland has a strong downhill heritage at the Olympics, with this victory continuing a tradition stretching back to Bernhard Russi in 1972 and Pirmin Zurbriggen in 1988. Italy’s double podium was its best men’s downhill result at a Winter Olympics in a generation, and Dominik Paris’s bronze, collected at the age of 36, made him one of the oldest alpine skiing medallists in Olympic history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in the Men’s Downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics?
Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland won gold in 1:51.61.
When did the Men’s Downhill take place?
Saturday 7 February 2026, on day one of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
Where was the race held?
On the Stelvio course at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, Italy.
Did Marco Odermatt win a medal?
No. Odermatt finished fourth, 0.70 seconds behind von Allmen.