DAILY BREAKDOWN - Historic first golds and high drama mark opening day of Milano Cortina 2026
Feb 07, 2026·ilovesnow:format(webp))
Four podiums were decided on a thrilling opening day at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, as the first Olympic medals were awarded across the FIS disciplines and the Games moved decisively from ceremony to competition.
History was made on the iconic Stelvio slope in Bormio, where Alpine Skiing – Men’s Downhill opened the Olympic medal tally in spectacular fashion. Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen delivered a dominant run to become the first Olympic champion of Milano Cortina 2026, while the home crowd erupted as Italians Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris claimed silver and bronze, securing the first Olympic medals for the host nation.
The opening day continued with a standout moment in Cross-Country Skiing, as Sweden’s Frida Karlsson surged to victory in the women’s Skiathlon to become the first female gold medallist of the Games, underlining the intensity and quality of early Olympic competition.
The excitement extended into the evening in Predazzo with a dramatic Women’s Ski Jumping Normal Hill final, where Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem held her nerve to win Olympic gold ahead of Slovenia’s Nika Prevc, showcasing the depth and rising standard of women’s ski jumping on the Olympic stage.
The first day concluded in Livigno, where Japan celebrated a historic breakthrough in Men’s Snowboard Big Air. Kimura Kira produced the highest-scoring jump of the final to win gold.
Storylines of the day
Alpine Skiing – Men’s Downhill
Franjo von Allmen (SUI) became the first Olympic champion of Milano Cortina 2026 in a superb downhill run in Bormio.
In a season so far dominated by the Swiss duo of Marco Odermatt and von Allmen, it was the latter who put in a barely believable run, taking his season form directly onto the top step of an Olympic podium with a dominant outing to add an Olympic title to his World Championship win.
His run of 1:51.61 was more than enough to secure Olympic gold, with the home duo of Giovanni Franzoni (ITA) and Dominik Paris (ITA) joining him on the podium in a thrilling opening day of alpine action.
Cross-Country Skiing – Women’s Skiathlon
Sweden’s Frida Karlsson took on world champion and compatriot Ebba Andersson to take the first Olympic Cross-Country gold on offer at the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games in the Women’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon at the Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium on Saturday.
Norway’s Heidi Weng finished with bronze, having done well to catch the chasing pack in the last part of the Freestyle.
Snowboard – Men’s Big Air
Japan made history in Livigno as Kimura Kira nailed the highest-scoring jump of the final to win men’s Big Air gold, leading team-mate Kimata Ryoma to a landmark Japanese 1–2. Kimura’s switch backside rotation 1980 sealed victory in a dramatic final run, while Beijing 2022 champion Su Yiming (CHN) claimed bronze to secure his third Olympic medal. It marked Japan’s first-ever Olympic medals in men’s Big Air and another chapter of progression at the sport’s elite level.
Ski Jumping – Women’s Normal Hill
Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem (NOR) delivered a flawless performance to claim Olympic gold in a dramatic Women’s Normal Hill final at Milano Cortina 2026. Slovenia’s Nika Prevc pushed her all the way, settling for silver after a thrilling head-to-head battle that went down to the final jump. The contest showcased the depth and intensity of women’s ski jumping at the Olympic level.
Through My Eyes | A Special Letter
I Love Snow an Olympic campaign that shines a light beyond results and podiums, focusing on the personal journeys that lead athletes to the Olympic stage.
In Through My Eyes / A Special Letter, selected competitors share intimate reflections on preparation, pressure and what it truly means to compete at the Games.
Today Armand Marchant (BEL) reads a letter a his younger self and his journey to Milano Cortina 2026.
I Love Snow
“I LOVE Snow – Passion Beyond Limits” brings fans closer to the athletes and stories that power snow sports across every FIS discipline - Olympic and Paralympic alike. The promise: authentic, emotional storytelling that turns moments into lasting fandom beyond Milano Cortina 2026.