The inaugural day of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics saw the first gold medals awarded across five sports, highlighted by Swiss alpine skier Franjo von Allmen’s victory in the men’s downhill and Italian speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida’s record-breaking win that sparked celebrations in the host nation. These moments set the tone for the Games, blending international triumphs with local pride.
In alpine skiing, von Allmen secured the first gold of the Olympics with a time of 1:51.61 on the challenging Stelvio course, edging out Italian favorites Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris, who took silver and bronze respectively. Simultaneously, in cross-country skiing, Sweden’s Frida Karlsson claimed gold in the women’s skiathlon, while her teammate Ebba Andersson took silver, showcasing Swedish dominance in the event.
On the speed skating oval, Lollobrigida delivered a stellar performance in the women’s 3000m, setting a new Olympic record of 3:54.28 to win gold for Italy. Her victory was met with roaring applause from the home crowd at the Milano Speed Skating Stadium, providing an early highlight for the host country and underscoring the emotional resonance of the Games.
Other gold medals were awarded in women’s ski jumping, where Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem triumphed, and in men’s snowboarding big air, where Japan’s Kira Kimura landed a spectacular 1980 spin to secure the top spot. Kimura’s win came after a tight competition that saw his compatriot Ryoma Kimata take silver and China’s Su Yiming bronze, with American Ollie Martin narrowly missing the podium in fourth place.
Team USA had a mixed day, with the women’s hockey team dominating Finland 5-0, led by captain Hilary Knight who tied the all-time U.S. Olympic scoring record. In figure skating, the U.S. maintained its lead in the team event, thanks to strong performances from Ilia Malinin in the men’s short program and the ice dance pair Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who won the free dance segment.
The day also featured events in luge, where Germany’s Max Langenhan set a track record in the men’s singles, and in freestyle skiing, with qualifiers for slopestyle finals. Notable absences included injuries, such as Boston Bruins forward Pavel Zacha withdrawing from the Czech ice hockey team, while the arrival of NHL players added star power to the competitions.
Looking ahead, the Olympics continue with more medal events, including women’s downhill and further team competitions. The early successes have energized athletes and fans alike, setting a competitive and celebratory atmosphere for the remainder of the Games, with expectations high for more record-breaking performances and memorable moments.
