As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics approach, Italian alpine skier Dominik Paris welcomes the 'good pressure' of competing on home snow in Bormio. Teammate Giovanni Franzoni emerges as a strong contender after recent World Cup victories. Meanwhile, Sofia Goggia aims to defend her downhill title from 2018 on familiar terrain in Cortina d'Ampezzo.
The men's alpine skiing events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics kick off this week in Bormio, with top skiers arriving for Downhill training on Wednesday and the race on Saturday. For Dominik Paris of Italy, sponsored by Nordica, this marks a contrast to his previous Olympic travels to Whistler Creekside in 2010, Sochi in 2014, PyeongChang in 2018, and Beijing in 2022. 'It's a good opportunity to start the Olympics in my home place on a slope that I like, where I prefer to ski,' Paris told FIS. He has dominated the Stelvio slope with seven World Cup titles, more than any other skier in history.
Paris views the expectations as motivational. 'For sure they expect a lot, but it's more good pressure that pushes you, not pressure that makes you more nervous.' His teammate Giovanni Franzoni, with Rossignol, has impressed with a Super G win in Wengen and a Downhill victory in Kitzbuhel. Paris noted, 'If you win Kitzbuehel it's always different, it means you've arrived in the top group.'
Switzerland's Marco Odermatt, with Stoeckli, seeks to build on his Beijing 2022 Giant Slalom gold, having won eight World Cup races this season. 'For sure I want to come home with a medal. Best would be a golden one,' Odermatt said, targeting Downhill, Super G on February 11, and Giant Slalom on February 14.
On the women's side, Sofia Goggia targets glory in Cortina d'Ampezzo's Olimpia delle Tofane course, where she won downhill gold in 2018. Despite past injuries, her focus remains on Olympic success at home.
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, now with Atomic after competing for Norway in 2022, aims for his nation's first medal. 'With Brazil, I carry possibility,' he said. The new Team Combined event pairs Downhill and Slalom skiers, promising intense national rivalries among Italy, Switzerland, Norway, Austria, and France.
