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Italy 7 – 8 February 2026
Source: https://www.olympics.com/en/milano-cortina-2026/schedule
Alpine Skiing Men’s Downhill
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Alpine Skiing Women’s Downhill
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Alpine skiing’s Downhill event is the sport’s ultimate speed test. It is the fastest, longest, and arguably most dangerous discipline in alpine racing, focusing on raw speed, risk-taking, and technical precision at high velocities.
Think of it as the Formula 1 of the skiing world.
Key Characteristics
To differentiate Downhill from other events like Slalom or Giant Slalom, look for these specific traits:
- Extreme Speed: Racers frequently reach speeds of 130–150 km/h (80–95 mph).
- The Course: Downhill courses have the fewest gates. The gates are set far apart, primarily to guide racers away from natural hazards rather than to force tight turns.
- Vertical Drop: The courses feature the greatest vertical drop of all events. For men’s World Cup races, this usually ranges between 800 and 1,100 meters.
- Format: Unlike technical events that have two “runs,” the Downhill is decided by a single run. One mistake usually means the podium is out of reach.
The Elements of a Race
A classic Downhill run isn’t just a straight line; it’s a high-stakes obstacle course consisting of:
| Element | Description |
| The “Tuck” | A crouched aerodynamic position used to minimize wind resistance. |
| Jumps | Natural or man-made terrain that can launch skiers 50+ meters through the air. |
| Gliding | The ability to maintain speed on flatter sections of the course. |
| Technical Turns | High-speed carving where the skier must hold an edge against immense G-forces. |
Specialized Equipment
Because of the physics involved, Downhill skiers use gear that would feel very strange to a recreational skier:
- Longer Skis: Downhill skis are significantly longer (often 210–218 cm) to provide stability at high speeds.
- Less Sidecut: They are straighter than Slalom skis, which helps prevent “chatter” or catching an edge accidentally at 140 km/h.
- Suit & Helmet: Racers wear skin-tight, air-permeable suits to reduce drag and specialized helmets for high-impact protection.
Fun Fact: The most famous Downhill race in the world is the Hahnenkamm in Kitzbühel, Austria. Its “Mausefalle” section features a jump with an 85% gradient, launching skiers into the steepest part of the mountain.
Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen captured the gold medal in the Men’s Downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy.
The race, held on the legendary Stelvio course on February 7, 2026, provided a thrilling start to the Games. While Switzerland took the top spot, the host nation, Italy, celebrated a double podium finish.
2026 Men’s Downhill Medalists
| Medal | Athlete | Nation | Time | Gap |
| 🥇 Gold | Franjo von Allmen | Switzerland | 1:51.61 | — |
| 🥈 Silver | Giovanni Franzoni | Italy | 1:51.81 | +0.20 |
| 🥉 Bronze | Dominik Paris | Italy | 1:52.11 | +0.50 |
Key Highlights
- A New Swiss Champion: Von Allmen, the 24-year-old reigning World Champion, continued the Swiss dominance in this event, succeeding his compatriot Beat Feuz (the 2022 Olympic champion).
- The Favourite Falls Short: Marco Odermatt, the pre-race favorite and World Cup leader, finished just off the podium in 4th place (+0.70). Despite a clean run, he couldn’t match the blistering pace of the top three on the icy Stelvio.
- Italian Redemption: For the home crowd, the silver and bronze for Franzoni and Paris marked a historic moment. Giovanni Franzoni’s silver was particularly emotional, as he dedicated the performance to his late teammate Matteo Franzoso.
- Top North Americans: Canada’s James Crawford finished in 9th place, while the top American was Kyle Negomir, who cracked the top ten with a 10th place finish.
The win by Von Allmen secured the very first gold medal awarded at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.
The Women’s Downhill at the 2026 Winter Olympics took place on Sunday, February 8, at the iconic Olimpia delle Tofane course in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
American Breezy Johnson claimed the gold medal, marking the first gold for the United States at these Games. The race was also defined by a high-stakes comeback attempt and a dramatic crash by alpine legend Lindsey Vonn.
2026 Women’s Downhill Medalists
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Time | Gap |
| 🥇 Gold | Breezy Johnson | 🇺🇸 United States | 1:36.10 | — |
| 🥈 Silver | Emma Aicher | 🇩🇪 Germany | 1:36.14 | +0.04 |
| 🥉 Bronze | Sofia Goggia | 🇮🇹 Italy | 1:36.69 | +0.59 |
Key Highlights
- Johnson’s Victory: Entering as the 2025 World Champion, Johnson delivered a near-flawless run to secure her first Olympic medal. She is only the second American woman to win Olympic downhill gold, following Lindsey Vonn in 2010.
- Lindsey Vonn’s Crash: In one of the most talked-about moments of the Games, 41-year-old Lindsey Vonn crashed early in her run after clipping a gate. Having returned from retirement and racing with a ruptured ACL, she had to be airlifted off the course for medical evaluation, though initial reports indicated she was conscious.
- Sofia Goggia’s Record: With her bronze medal, the “Queen of Speed” became the first woman in Olympic history to win medals in the downhill at three consecutive Winter Games (Gold in 2018, Silver in 2022, Bronze in 2026).
- Close Finish: Germany’s Emma Aicher nearly pulled off an upset, finishing just 0.04 seconds behind Johnson to take a surprise silver medal.
Top 10 Finishers
- Jacqueline Wiles (USA): +0.86
- Cornelia Hütter (AUT): +0.86
- Laura Pirovano (ITA): +0.94
- Kajsa Vickhoff Lie (NOR): +0.98
- Ariane Rädler (AUT): +1.10
- Kira Weidle-Winkelmann (GER): +1.16
- Federica Brignone (ITA): +1.19
Here is the schedule for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, February 7, 2026:
| Time (CET) | Sport | Event |
| 09:05 | Curling | Mixed Doubles Round Robin (GBR vs. CAN / SUI vs. SWE) |
| 09:30 | Freestyle Skiing | Women’s Freeski Slopestyle Qualification |
| 10:30 | Alpine Skiing | Men’s Downhill 🥇 |
| 10:30 | Alpine Skiing | Women’s Downhill 3rd Official Training |
| 11:10 | Ice Hockey | Women’s Prelim. Round – Group B (GER vs. JPN) |
| 12:00 | Cross-Country Skiing | Women’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon 🥇 |
| 12:30 | Luge | Women’s Singles Official Training |
| 13:00 | Freestyle Skiing | Men’s Freeski Slopestyle Qualification |
| 13:35 | Curling | Mixed Doubles Round Robin (EST vs. NOR / KOR vs. CZE / SWE vs. ITA / GBR vs. USA) |
| 13:40 | Ice Hockey | Women’s Prelim. Round – Group B (SWE vs. ITA) |
| 15:00 | Speed Skating | Women’s 3000m 🥇 |
| 15:40 | Ice Hockey | Women’s Prelim. Round – Group A (USA vs. FIN) |
| 16:00 | Luge | Men’s Singles Run 1 |
| 16:45 | Ski Jumping | Women’s NH Individual – Trial Round |
| 17:32 | Luge | Men’s Singles Run 2 |
| 17:45 | Ski Jumping | Women’s NH Individual – 1st Round |
| 18:05 | Curling | Mixed Doubles Round Robin (KOR vs. USA / CAN vs. EST / CZE vs. SUI / NOR vs. ITA) |
| 18:30 | Snowboard | Men’s Snowboard Big Air Final 🥇 |
| 18:45 | Figure Skating | Team Event – Men Single Skating – Short Program |
| 18:57 | Ski Jumping | Women’s NH Individual – Final Round 🥇 |
| 20:10 | Ice Hockey | Women’s Prelim. Round – Group A (SUI vs. CAN) |
| 21:05 | Figure Skating | Team Event – Ice Dance – Free Dance |
🥇 Medal Event | NH: Normal Hill | CET: Central European Time
