Swiss Skier Wins First Gold as Winter Olympics Kick Off Amid Political Commentary and Global Tensions
BORMIO, ITALY - The 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Games saw their first gold medal awarded on Saturday, with Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen taking the top spot in the men's downhill race. The competition, which began on February 4th, is taking place in Italy, six hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, and will continue through the closing ceremony on February 22nd. The Paralympics are scheduled to follow in March.
Von Allmen completed the challenging course in Bormio in 1 minute, 51.61 seconds, according to CBS News. Italy's Giovanni Franzoni secured the silver medal, finishing 0.2 seconds behind von Allmen. Dominik Paris, also of Italy, claimed the bronze, while Marco Odermatt of Switzerland was knocked off the podium. The highest-ranked American in the men's downhill was Kyle Negomir, who finished 10th.
The Games have also brought attention to political issues. Some Team USA athletes have shared their perspectives on representing the United States amid the current political climate. "I love the USA, and I think I would never want to represent a different country in the Olympics. With that being said, you know, a lot of times athletes are hesitant to talk about political views and how we feel about things," said Team USA freestyle skier Chris Lillis, referencing recent events in the United States.
Adding to the backdrop of the Games, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the U.S. has set a June deadline for Ukraine and Russia to reach an agreement to end the nearly four-year war. "The Americans are proposing the parties end the war by the beginning of this summer and will probably put pressure on the parties precisely according to this schedule," Zelenskyy stated, speaking to reporters. He added that the U.S. aims to "do everything to end the war" by the deadline.
In other news, Alpine ski great Lindsey Vonn, despite rupturing her left ACL in a World Cup race a week prior, took to the slopes for a final training run ahead of Sunday's Olympic race event. Vonn confirmed the severity of her injury on social media, stating, "My ACL was fully functioning until last Friday. Just because it seems impossible to you doesn't mean it's not possible. And yes, my ACL is 100 ruptured. Not 80 or 50. It's 100 gone."
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