Promising Signs For Team USA Despite Opening Day Medal Drought
Feb 7, 2026, 4:13 PM
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, ITALY - FEBRUARY 07: Lindsey Vonn of Team United States of America skis during the Women's Downhill training on day one of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre on February 07, 2026 in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
MILAN (AP) — The 2026 Winter Games are off to a promising start for host nation Italy with gold, silver, and bronze on the first day of medal events.
But it was Switzerland’s Franjo Von Allmen who captured the first gold medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics on Saturday.
The first day of medals is here, and we’re ready to celebrate every victory! 🏅🤳#WinterOlympics | #VictorySelfie | #Olympics | #OpenAlwaysWins | #Samsung | @SamsungMobile pic.twitter.com/CcWO8ZR4mv
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 7, 2026
There were no Americans on the podium, though Lindsey Vonn impressed in her second training run ahead of the women’s downhill on Sunday.
Birthday gold for Lollobrigida
Italian speedskater Francesca Lollobrigida celebrated her 35th birthday by winning the host nation’s first gold medal of these Olympics — in the 3,000 meters. It’s also Italy’s first gold in women’s speedskating at any Winter Games.
Speed skater Francesca Lollobrigida won Italy’s first Olympic gold medal of #MilanoCortina2026 on Day 1 of the Winter Olympic Games 🥇
Her young son Tommaso was in the stands ready to celebrate with his mum – and on her birthday too! 🥹 pic.twitter.com/OY2jzImZke
— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 7, 2026
Competing in her fourth Olympics, Lollobrigida outskated Ragne Wiklund of Norway for her first Olympic gold after winning silver and bronze in Beijing four years ago.
Her great aunt was the late Gina Lollobrigida, a star actress of the 1950s and ’60s.
Von Allmen strikes gold on Olympic debut
Italy had a strong day on the slopes, as well, with Alpine skiers Giovanni Franzoni and Dominik Paris taking silver and bronze, respectively, in the men’s downhill — the first medal event of the Games.
However, neither could beat Von Allmen’s time of 1 minute, 51.61 seconds in Bormio.
The 24-year-old Swiss skier was the leader after his downhill run, but the wait for his rivals to finish was nerve-racking.
RELATED: Team USA Cruises Past Finland As Hilary Knight Ties U.S. Olympic Scoring Record
“I tried to enjoy the moment, but I didn’t quite realize what was going on today,” von Allmen said after his first Olympic race.
Paris, 36, was delighted with his bronze after coming away empty-handed in his four previous Olympics.
“It’s my fifth Olympics, and getting the first medal in front of the home crowd, that’s really special,” Paris said.
Lindsey Vonn feeling ‘good’ ahead of women’s downhill
In Cortina, Lindsey Vonn completed another downhill training run and was set for Sunday’s medal race despite tearing her left ACL a little more than a week ago.
Lindsey Vonn tore her ACL one week ago.
ONE WEEK AGO.
This is crazy. 🤯
(via @NBCOlympics)pic.twitter.com/LjiYVoRrFM
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 6, 2026
The 41-year-old American crossed the line in third position and told The Associated Press “all good.”
She has been wearing a large brace on her injured knee.
Kagiyama stuns Malinin in figure skating team event
Yuma Kagiyama landed near-perfect quads and scored 108.67 points in his short program to help Japan put pressure on the defending champion U.S. in the figure skating team event.
Malinin, the two-time reigning world champion, was second with 98.00.
But a brilliant free skate by Madison Chock and Evan Bates pushed the U.S. score to 44 points — five more than Japan ahead of the men’s, women’s and pairs free skates to decide the medals Sunday.
Disappointment for Jessie Diggins in skiathlon
Jessie Diggins, the most decorated American cross-country skier ever, finished eighth in the 20-kilometer women’s skiathlon in Tesero. She finished more than 2 minutes behind the winner, Frida Karlsson of Sweden.
RELATED: Jessie Diggins Finishes Top Ten In Skiathlon, Two Other Locals Follow
She never. backed. down. 💪 @jessdiggs kicks off the games with a top-10 finish in the women’s skiathlon in 8th place 🔥🇺🇸
📸 Nordic Focus pic.twitter.com/mLwUTaa8fq
— U.S. Ski & Snowboard Team (@usskiteam) February 7, 2026
“I had a crash on the first lap, where my tip just disappeared in the slush, and unfortunately, it was a tough spot where you lose all your momentum,” the 34-year-old Minnesota native said.
JD Vance and Jake Paul attend a US women’s hockey game.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance sat with influencer and boxer Jake Paul as they watched the U.S. women’s hockey team beat Finland 5-0 on Saturday. Paul’s fiancée, Jutta Leerdam, is a speedskater for the Netherlands.
Finland played two days after the team’s game against Canada had to be postponed because of a stomach virus affecting players. Switzerland played Canada a day after announcing that one of its players tested positive for the norovirus. Canada won 4-0.
Norwegian upsets Slovenian favorite in women’s ski jumping
Norway — the nation with the most medals in Winter Olympics history — got its first gold of the Games in the women’s ski jumping. It was unexpected.
Anna Odine Stroem of Norway won the normal hill competition ahead of Slovenian favorite Nika Prevc, who has dominated the sport this season. Nozomi Maruyama of Japan won bronze.
Gold and silver for Japan in men’s snowboarding
Kira Kimura won Japan’s first gold medal at these Games — in men’s snowboarding big air in Livigno. His teammate, Ryoma Kimata, picked up the silver medal.
Defending champion Su Yiming of China took bronze, keeping 17-year-old American Oliver Martin off the podium.
Big air consists of one single jump off a huge ramp, where the rider varies spins, flips, and holds of the board.
