Swiss Skier Wins Olympic Gold After Crowdfunding Saved Career
Franjo von Allmen, who nearly quit skiing at 17 due to financial struggles, just won Switzerland's first gold medal at the Milan Cortina Olympics. The 24-year-old's journey from crowdfunded teenager to Olympic champion proves that one community's belief can change everything.
A skier who couldn't afford to race just seven years ago stood atop the Olympic podium Saturday as a gold medalist.
Franjo von Allmen won the men's downhill at the Milan Cortina Olympics in his very first Olympic race. The 24-year-old Swiss racer blazed down Italy's challenging Stelvio course in 1 minute and 51.61 seconds, claiming the Games' first gold medal on a picture-perfect day in Bormio.
His victory carries extra weight because it almost never happened. At 17, after losing his father, von Allmen didn't have the money to continue competitive skiing.
A crowdfunding campaign saved his dream. Supporters raised enough money for him to keep racing and eventually qualify for Switzerland's national C team.
"It feels like a movie," von Allmen said after his win. "How could you imagine the Olympics better than to start with a gold medal?"
The young racer proved his backers right by winning three silver medals at the 2022 junior world championships in Canada. Last year, he captured gold at the world championships in Austria, showing he belonged among skiing's elite.
Italy's Giovanni Franzoni finished just two-tenths of a second behind for silver, while 36-year-old Dominik Paris claimed bronze in front of roaring home crowds. Paris, who fronts a heavy metal band called Rise of Voltage in his spare time, earned his first Olympic medal in his fifth Winter Games.
Why This Inspires
Von Allmen's story shows what's possible when communities invest in young dreamers. Strangers who donated to a grieving teenager's crowdfunding campaign just watched their faith rewarded on the world's biggest stage.
The new champion isn't dwelling on those difficult years. "For me that chapter is closed," he said. "I prefer to concentrate on what's yet to come and what's happening now."
He's using the same ski technician who helped Beat Feuz win downhill gold for Switzerland at the 2022 Beijing Games. Kyle Negomir finished 10th as the top American, saying he had "no regrets" about his run.
Sometimes all it takes is people believing in you when you can't afford to believe in yourself.
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Based on reporting by ESPN
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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