How Franjo von Allmen rewrote Olympic history to beat legend Marco Odermatt and win third gold medal of 2026 Winter Olympics
By Leon Imber
Updated 11/02/2026 at 16:04 GMT
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Switzerland taking gold in the downhill, combined and super-G events at the 2026 Winter Olympics was an expected outcome. But the manner in which the nation has conquered alpine skiing in recent days has raised eyebrows across the world. That is because Marco Odermatt - the typically all-conquering star on the slopes, has been usurped by his history-making compatriot - Franjo von Allmen.
Odermatt dismayed with bronze after missing out on super-G title to Von Allmen
Video credit: TNT Sports
Surprises have come in plentiful supply on the opening week of action at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. But few have been as striking at Franjo von Allmen's utter dominance in the men's alpine skiing events.
Marco Odermatt - Switzerland's typically all-conquering titan on the slopes - now has just one more opportunity to snag a gold medal.
He came into the Games tipped for glory after winning the last four World Cup titles, but now only has a victory chance remaining in the men's giant slalom.
And that is because Von Allmen once again stormed to gold, upsetting compatriot Odermatt, who was left "a bit disappointed" to claim bronze in Wednesday's super-G final.
While his rise to the top has been very much in the making on the World Cup stage, Von Allmen, 24, has announced himself to the world since his storming run in Saturday's downhill, and subsequent combined victory alongside team-mate Tanguy Nef.
Von Allmen made Olympic history with a hat-trick at Milano Cortina with a winning run of 1:25.32 in Wednesday's super-G - another event for which Odermatt was the firm favourite.
Team USA’s Ryan Cochran-Siegle finished with silver - just 0.13 seconds behind Von Allmen, while Odermatt finished a further 0.15 seconds adrift.
Cochran-Siegle praised Von Allmen's "spectacular" progression over the last few years.
"He's unbelievable. He's such an awesome guy, such a fun skier to watch... he's having fun every single day.
Who is Franjo von Allmen?
An unfamiliar name to many of the more casual winter sports consumers, due partly to the fact he is making his Olympic debut at Milano Cortina.
Within five days of the Games, he has tripled the gold medal tally of his much-fancied fellow Swiss Odermatt.
Von Allmen's emphatic bursting onto the Olympic scene may not come as so much of a surprise for devout alpine skiing followers, however, as TNT Sports expert Charlie Guest explained.
"He burst onto the World Cup scene last season, and since then, put himself on the World Championship podiums, deposing Marco Odermatt," Guest said.
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Speechless Von Allmen 'never dreamed of' completing 'crazy' gold hat-trick
Video credit: TNT Sports
"Then doing it again today. He came down into the finish and almost looked apologetic for his performance, like ‘ah, I was so fast again’.
"Marco Odermatt, you could see when he went over to congratulate Von Allmen in the chair, Von Allmen was almost like ‘I’m sorry, I’ve done it again’."
Wednesday's victory signified a "very definite passing of the baton" from Odermatt to Von Allmen, as TNT Sports' Orla Chennaoui observed, with the up-and-coming star triumphing on the exact site at which Odermatt had won two of his super-G World Cup titles.
Von Allmen only made his World Cup debut in 2023, and has since accumulated five wins on the tour. At just 17, the Swiss star was hit by the death of his father, and in order to continue his career, he set up a crowdfunding campaign.
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Has Von Allmen deposed 'poster boy' Odermatt as Alpine skiing king?
Video credit: TNT Sports
At that time, it may have been hard to foresee the immense success he enjoys today, and following his historic third victory, he said he will always remain grounded despite whatever success he goes on to enjoy.
"At the moment, I can’t fully grasp what these medals really mean and what they mean for my future but, just as during the first World Cup races, I always said I’ll remain faithful to myself, identical to myself, whether I win a medal or not," he said.
"I don’t know what the future has in store, but I believe my life will continue on the path it is right now.
"I can only say that these are my first Olympic Games and the races were perfect for me. All the pieces fell into place, luck was on my side somehow."
What Winter Olympics records has Von Allmen broken?
With his super-G victory on Wednesday, Von Allmen forever wrote himself into the Winter Olympics history books.
He became the first male skier since Jean Claude Killy in 1968 to win three gold medals at the same edition of the Winter Olympics.
Across the men's and women's events, Von Allmen became the first alpine skier to win three golds in 24 years - since Janica Kostelic at the Salt Lake City Games in 2002.
Moreover, Von Allmen became the first-ever Swiss athlete to win three events at the same Winter Games. Even in the summer Olympics, a Swiss has not won three golds at the same Games since 1928.
Should it have been known that such records would fall during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, there would not have been an overwhelming sense of surprise, with it likely assumed Odermatt would be the history-maker.
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Odermatt: You have to be happy with Olympic medal despite gold disappointment
Video credit: TNT Sports
Alas, Switzerland will celebrate their newest great talent.
"Odermatt looked so resigned in the finish," Guest said. "It was a ‘what more could I have done’, maybe a little bit of that emotional fatigue setting in.
"But I really hope he manages to lift himself because he does still have a chance in the giant slalom. That’s where most of his World Cup wins have come."
Indeed, there is just the one last chance for Odermatt to go home with gold around his neck. Having picked up silver and bronze, having hardware of each colour would still represent a successful fortnight.
"I mean, if you win a medal at the Olympic Games you have to be happy," Odermatt said. "I was very lucky with the hundredths this time before Nils Allegre [who came fourth], very sad for him.
"For sure, the goal was to win gold, so when I came to the finish I was a bit disappointed. I never thought it’d be enough for a medal, usually it wouldn’t be enough. But the snow changed pretty quickly, so it was not faster for the guys behind me."
How 'most heartbreaking moment' unfolded
There were disastrous scenes for downhill bronze medal-winner Dominik Paris, as he looked to add to his medal tally for hosts Italy.
Around 15 seconds into his run, his right ski came flying off, sending him hurtling down the hill - resulting in the dreaded 'DNF' scribed beside his name.
Guest had huge amounts of sympathy for the Italian, who fell victim to a bumpy section of the run.
"One of the most heartbreaking moments of this Games so far, from a home favourite," Guest said.
"The ski pre-releases through a bumpy section. There’s always a fine line, the ski was doing its job, bumping around all over the place through that terrain there. It happens in ski racing, but for it to happen at your home Olympic Games, I’m just glad he picked up a medal on downhill day, so that this wasn’t his only chance."
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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