Gold Rush Begins at Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics as Athletes Shine

Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland claimed the first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, dominating the men's downhill event on Saturday, February 7, just hours after the Games officially opened. Following a grand opening ceremony held in Milan and various venues across the Italian Alps on Friday, all eyes turned to the prestigious downhill event in Bormio. In bright sunshine, reigning world champion Von Allmen conquered the challenging Stelvio course, finishing 0.20 seconds ahead of Italy's Giovanni Franzoni, while famed teammate Marco Odermatt, a pre-race favorite, could only secure fourth place. "At this moment, I can't put into words what it means to me; it feels like a movie," a delighted Von Allmen expressed following his victory. While the men's downhill brought disappointment for the host nation, it was speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida who made an emotional comeback, clinching Italy's first gold medal of the Games in the women's 3000-meter event. The 35-year-old athlete, distantly related to the late actress Gina Lollobrigida, shattered the Olympic record by finishing the race in a breathtaking 3 minutes and 54.28 seconds. Once her victory was confirmed, she dashed off the ice to embrace her young son, Tommaso, who was brought to her by a volunteer. In the freeski category, China's superstar Eileen Gu faced early challenges but advanced to the finals of the women's slopestyle event. Initially, Gu struggled with her balance during her first run, but she turned it around in her second, scoring 75.30 to secure second place. After the run, she credited her mother for keeping her focused and motivated, saying, "She fed me snacks and told me to wake up and get it together." US figure skating icon Ilia Malinin is also set to make his Olympic debut in the men's singles short program as part of the United States' bid to reclaim the team event title. The American team currently leads after the first day, buoyed by a strong showing from world champion ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates. As the competitions get underway, the International Olympic Committee expressed hope for fair play during the events, especially after US Vice President JD Vance received a mixed reaction during the opening ceremony, facing boos when he and his wife appeared on the big screen while US athletes paraded. IOC spokesperson Mark Adams stated, "Seeing the US team cheered was fantastic," emphasizing the importance of fair play at sporting events. In a more somber note, clashes occurred between demonstrators and police in Milan following a protest march against the Winter Olympics, focusing on environmental concerns. Police used water cannons to disperse the crowd after the protest escalated beyond peaceful demonstrations. As the excitement builds, momentum shifts towards the next round of competitions, and with so many remarkable stories unfolding, this Winter Olympics promises to be one for the history books. Related Sources: • Source 1 • Source 2