Swiss alpine athlete Franjo von Allmen secured his third gold medal at the Milan-Cortina Games on Wednesday, placing him among the Olympic legends, as Chloe Kim continued her pursuit of a unique snowboarding achievement.
Competing on the Bormio slopes, Von Allmen triumphed in the super-G competition, supplementing his previous victories in the downhill and the team combined categories.
By claiming three events in a single Games, Von Allmen achieved a status shared only by a select group of male Olympic alpine skiing icons, including Austria’s Toni Sailer from the 1956 Winter Games and France’s Jean-Claude Killy in 1968.
The sole female athlete to accomplish this remarkable feat was Janica Kostelic of Croatia, at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
During the super-G, an event blending the rapid pace of downhill racing with the precise maneuvers of giant slalom, Von Allmen reached velocities of up to 120 km/h (75 mph).
American competitor Ryan Cochran-Siegle earned the silver medal in the competition for the second consecutive Games, and Switzerland’s reigning world champion, Marco Odermatt, secured the bronze, overcoming his previous frustration from failing to medal in the downhill race.
American phenom Chloe Kim commenced her pursuit of a unique historical milestone, aiming to become the inaugural snowboarder – male or female – to clinch three successive Olympic gold medals.
While two other competitors had previously failed to achieve this at the Italian Games, Kim, in her debut at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, delivered an outstanding performance to lead the qualifying round for the halfpipe discipline.
Kim, who at merely 25 years old already holds gold medals from the preceding two Winter Olympics, attributed her initial success in her endeavor to “muscle memory.”
She remarked, “I’ve been engaged in this sport for 22 years, understand? Muscle memory is a genuine phenomenon. It’s possible I’m more proficient at snowboarding than at walking.”
Despite a dislocated shoulder nearly sidelining Kim from the Olympics just last month, she stated it caused no hindrance during her qualification routine.
– We wish for his participation’ –
On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee announced its intention to persuade Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych against using a prohibited helmet, which displays images of war victims from the conflict with Russia, during the Milan-Cortina Games.
Nevertheless, Heraskevych has previously declared his resolve not to yield, and he was observed wearing the helmet once more during training at the Cortina Sliding Centre on Wednesday, prior to Thursday’s scheduled heats.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has supported the gesture, Heraskevych faces potential disqualification, as political expressions during competitions are prohibited by the Olympic charter.
IOC spokesperson Mark Adams stated, “We will reach out to him today, and we will emphasize the numerous avenues available for him to convey his sorrow.”
Competitors are allowed to voice their opinions in press conferences and on digital platforms; furthermore, on Tuesday, the IOC indicated it would grant an “exception” for Heraskevych, permitting him to don a simple black armband during the event.
“We desire for him to participate. We genuinely, genuinely wish for him to experience his moment. That holds immense significance.”
Concurrently, in a widely discussed development, the former partner of a Norwegian biathlete – who secured a bronze medal and subsequently admitted to an infidelity during a live broadcast – has expressed that it is “difficult to pardon.”
When prompted by Norway’s NRK on Tuesday to articulate his emotions following his bronze in the 20km individual race, an emotional Sturla Holm Laegreid became tearful and confessed to being unfaithful to his romantic partner.
The 28-year-old recounted, “Half a year ago, I encountered the love of my existence, the most exquisite and finest individual globally.”
He proceeded, “And three months past, I committed the gravest error of my life by being disloyal.”
On Wednesday, the individual involved, whose identity remains private, communicated to the Verdens Gang (VG) newspaper: “Forgiveness is challenging. Even following a public declaration of affection before everyone.”
She further remarked, “I did not elect to be placed in this circumstance, and it brings distress.”
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