Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen shined brightly at the Milan-Cortina Olympics by securing his third gold medal, making him the third alpine skier in history to achieve this feat at the Winter Games—a milestone not reached since 1968. Despite his historic win in the super-G at Bormio, von Allmen emphasized that his focus was on enjoying the moment rather than on legacy, stating that he believes the significance of his achievement will resonate more in the years to come. Prior to this, he claimed victory in the downhill event and contributed to Switzerland’s overall team win alongside Tanguy Neff.
Later on Wednesday, American athletes Madison Chock and Evan Bates aimed for gold in ice dance, while medals in luge and speed skating were also contested.
The NHL has made its return to Olympic ice hockey after missing the 2018 and 2022 Games due to scheduling conflicts and pandemic disruptions. The men’s hockey tournament kicked off with Finland, the defending champions, facing Slovakia at the Santa Giulia Arena in Milan. Slovakia’s Juraj Slavkovskiy, who previously earned bronze at 17 in 2022 with the Montreal Canadiens, celebrated his return to the Olympics by scoring his first goal in the men’s competition.
Meanwhile, Chloe Kim began her bid for a third consecutive halfpipe gold with a strong qualification performance, finishing first despite wearing a shoulder brace following an injury. She credited her muscle memory and a well-maintained shoulder for enabling her to compete. In other events, American skiers Elizabeth Lemley and Jaelyn Kauf took gold and silver in women’s freestyle moguls. Norway’s Jens Lulers Oftebro triumphed in the Nordic Combined Normal Hill event by navigating challenging snowy conditions, and France’s Julia Simon made history as the first French woman to win gold in the women’s 15km biathlon, with teammate Lou Jeanmono earning silver.
Canada’s Olympic team expressed deep sorrow over the tragic school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, BC, extending heartfelt sympathies to affected families and the community. The drama surrounding Ukrainian athlete Vladislav Heraskevich continued, as he trained wearing a helmet adorned with portraits of victims of Russian attacks, including athletes, despite the IOC’s prohibition on helmet imagery during competitions.
Fan Take: The return of NHL players to Olympic ice hockey injects new excitement into the sport, illustrating how the Olympics remain a global showcase for top-tier talent. These stories highlight the resilience and determination of athletes across disciplines, fueling anticipation for more inspiring moments ahead in Milan.
