SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria — The joyous notes of “Sweet Caroline” echoed through the picturesque Alpine valley as a crowd of 22,500 celebrated the achievements of local skiing hero and seasoned competitor Vincent Kriechmayr. The atmosphere shifted dramatically for Swiss sensation Franjo von Allmen, who came just two skiers later, capturing the spotlight and the gold medal in the men’s downhill championship on Sunday, marking his emergence as a remarkable talent in winter sports.
At just 23 years old, von Allmen demonstrated his prowess by relegating Kriechmayr to the silver position. His ability to charge through the final gates of the challenging Schneekristall course was impressive, culminating with a breathtaking leap of 52.5 yards (48 meters) off the last jump. He crossed the finish line 0.24 seconds ahead of Kriechmayr and 0.31 seconds in front of the bronze medalist, Alexis Monney, also hailing from Switzerland.
“This is unbelievable!” exclaimed von Allmen as his fellow Swiss fans cheered him on with chants of “Hopp Suisse.” He expressed delight over the healthy competition within the Swiss team and how they motivate one another, adding, “It’s really enjoyable knowing that today it’s me, tomorrow it could be someone else.” During the post-race ceremony, he was crowned “Weltmeister” (world champion) by the legendary Austrian skier Franz Klammer, known for his 1976 Olympic success.
Despite the local hopes for an Austrian victor, Switzerland has undeniably been a dominant force in men’s downhill skiing on the World Cup stage this season, boasting four victories and multiple runner-up finishes across five events. “Marco (Odermatt) shares valuable insights about the course with us, and that’s likely a significant factor in our success,” noted Monney.
Even though von Allmen has not secured a World Cup downhill title yet, he has had an impressive season with three second-place finishes and a victory in super-G at a recent event in Wengen. Fellow Swiss competitor Stefan Rogentin acknowledged, “We always knew he had talent but maybe not to this extent.” Von Allmen’s journey in skiing is particularly poignant as he faced uncertainty when his father passed away when he was just 17, leading him to initially struggle with the financial burdens of pursuing the sport.
Determined, he initiated a crowdfunding campaign that successfully raised 16,000 Swiss francs ($17,600), allowing him to continue. The following year, he qualified for the national C team and later brought home three silver medals at the junior championships in Canada, including one in downhill. In his downtime, von Allmen works as a carpenter, maintaining a connection to his roots, stating, “It’s vital to have a balanced mental perspective.”
Teammates regard von Allmen as exceptionally driven in his pursuit of excellence. Rogentin humorously remarked on von Allmen’s intense training style, highlighting that he frequently goes full throttle, sometimes neglecting to slow down. While his teammates enjoy his infectious energy on the slopes, they prefer not to share accommodations with him due to his loud snoring.
At the World Championships, von Allmen is sharing a suite with Monney, but it’s clear that sleep might be hard to come by given their celebratory plans. “We’re definitely in for a lively night,” he remarked.
American skiers faced challenges as they strived for a medal. Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who had led in two of three training sessions, ended up in 13th place after a series of missteps and rough landings. He acknowledged, “I didn’t manage to perform at my best today.” Bryce Bennett was the top American finisher in 10th, and with Breezy Johnson’s earlier victory in the women’s downhill, the men’s team was aiming for an unprecedented complete sweep. “Both Ryan and I can contend for victory whenever we compete, but we’re still working on channeling that confidence during race day,” Bennett commented.
Looking forward, the men’s skiing for the Milan-Cortina Olympics will take place on the Stelvio course in Bormio, a venue where Cochran-Siegle has previously excelled. However, the current dominance of the Swiss team poses a formidable challenge. Cochran-Siegle concluded by stating, “They’ve established themselves as the team to beat, and we’re all just trying to close that gap.”
