Military athletes deliver early medals as Milano Cortina 2026 finds its rhythm
MILAN / CORTINA D’AMPEZZO (ITA) – More than 300 military athletes representing the respective CISM Nations, among them France, Kazakhstan, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, Lithuania, Poland and Italy, are competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, proudly combining elite sport with service to their nations. In the opening days of competition, this unique community has already left its mark, delivering podium performances and powerful stories that reflect the values of excellence, resilience and Friendship through Sport.
Military athletes have made a remarkable impact in the opening phase of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, collecting an impressive series of Olympic medals across multiple disciplines and demonstrating once again the powerful link between military values and sporting excellence. Competing alongside the world’s best, these service members have carried the colors of their nations with honor, discipline and determination.
The first golden moment came on the ice oval where Francesca Lollobrigida delivered a historic performance in the Women’s 3,000 m Speed Skating, claiming Olympic gold with a commanding race. Competing with composure and tactical intelligence, Lollobrigida became a symbol of Italian pride and resilience, celebrating a victory that resonated far beyond the rink. Her triumph stands as one of the defining images of the early Games.
On the legendary Stelvio downhill course in Bormio, alpine skiing produced a succession of standout performances from athletes in uniform. Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen opened the men’s speed programme with a brilliant Olympic title in the Men’s Downhill, while Italy then celebrated an unforgettable double podium as Giovanni Franzoni stormed to silver and veteran Dominik Paris secured bronze. In the women’s downhill, Germany’s Emma Aicher captured silver and Italy’s Sofia Goggia added bronze, further underlining the strong presence of military athletes in alpine skiing.
Swiss success continued in the Men’s Team Combined, where Franjo von Allmen returned to the top step of the podium to claim a second gold medal, this time alongside Tanguy Nef. The result confirmed Switzerland’s depth and consistency in the alpine events and marked one of the standout military achievements of the opening week.
Team spirit was at the heart of the Biathlon Mixed Relay, where the French quartet, including SGT Éric Perrot and SGT Lou Jeanmonnot, secured Olympic gold after a composed and high-level team performance built on accuracy and skiing strength. Germany also featured on the podium through Justus Strelow, who contributed to the bronze-medal relay effort. The Italian quartet of Lisa Vittozzi, Dorothea Wierer, Lukas Hofer and Tommaso Giacomel, meanwhile, produced a masterclass of precision shooting and endurance skiing to earn silver. Together, these results illustrated the collective strength and mutual trust that define both military service and biathlon at the highest level.
Speed skating continued to bring success as Riccardo Lorello claimed bronze in the Men’s 5,000 m, announcing the arrival of a new generation of Italian talent on the Olympic stage. On the sliding track, military athletes also shone in luge, where Germany’s Max Langenhan captured gold in the Men’s Singles, while Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller added bronze, navigating the challenging course with the cool-headed control characteristic of experienced soldier-athletes.
In ski jumping, Germany’s Philipp Raimund soared to gold in the Men’s Normal Hill Individual, while Switzerland’s Gregor Deschwanden earned bronze in the same event, adding two more important results to the growing list of military achievements in Milano Cortina.
In Livigno, Lucia Dalmasso captured bronze in the Women’s Parallel Giant Slalom Snowboarding. Her journey from injury setbacks to the Olympic podium embodies the resilience and fighting spirit shared by athletes in uniform around the world.
These achievements underline the essential role played by military athletes at Milano Cortina 2026. Beyond medals, they represent values of integrity, teamwork and respect — the same principles promoted daily within the armed forces and at the heart of the CISM mission.
As the Games continue, military competitors remain strong contenders in numerous events, ready to write new chapters of Olympic history and to inspire future generations through the spirit of Friendship through Sport.
(Source: CISM Media & Communication Department - Pictures: Ministero Della Difesa, Swiss Olympic Team, Team Deutschland)
