Franjo von Allmen Shines Bright: How He Surprised His Swiss Teammates to Claim the Men’s Downhill World Championship

Swiss skier Franjo von Allmen stunned everyone with his unexpected victory at the 2025 FIS World Alpine Ski Championships in Saalbach, Austria, on February 9th. While many expected defending champion Marco Odermatt and World Cup winner Alexis Monney to shine, it was von Allmen who took home the downhill title.

The 23-year-old celebrated his first major downhill win, adding it to his impressive season that included three World Cup podium finishes and a Super G victory in Wengen last month. He experienced a rocky start but surged forward in the latter half of the 3,129-meter track, completing the race with a time that left him and the audience in disbelief.

Austrian veteran Vincent Kriechmayr finished just 0.24 seconds behind, claiming second place, while Monney secured bronze, just seven-hundredths of a second later. Kriechmayr, a former world champion, used his experience on the local course to navigate smoothly and clinch a medal after enduring a tough season.

Monney initially struggled in his Super G run but redeemed himself with a daring start. He took the lead by over a second before being surpassed by both Kriechmayr and von Allmen, ultimately finishing with his first World Championship medal.

As for Odermatt, fresh off his Super G win, he faced challenges in the top section of the course, which cost him valuable time. He ended up finishing fifth, 0.66 seconds behind the leader, visibly frustrated with his performance.

This championship was a remarkable turning point for von Allmen, marking his rise in the competitive world of alpine skiing. With a mix of youth and talent, he has undoubtedly made his mark and will be one to watch in future competitions.

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