The Olympic finals begin, first medals for the Azzurri: Franzoni is silver, Paris bronze

It opens with a silver and a bronze in the men’s downhillMilan Cortina Olympics: Giovanni Franzoni took the silver medal ahead of Dominik Parisbronze. The gold went to the Swiss Franjo von Allmen with a time of 1’51″61.

Franzoni finished just 20 cents behind the Swiss, Paris with 50 cents. The big favourite, the Swiss Mario Odermatt, was only fourth. Among the other blues eleventh place for Mattia Casse17th Florian Schieder. A podium stained blue, so once again Italy eludes gold in the men’s freestyle: the last one was that of Zeno Colo’ in Oslo ’52

Today’s other competitions

Scheduled today first final also of speed skatingthe women’s 3000 meters with Francesca Lollobrigida. In the evening the spotlight will be on Ian Matteoli in the final ofl big air snowboard. The commitment for the Italian women’s national team is difficult hockey: the Italians face Sweden.

These are the Azzurri competing today:

• 10.30 am: women’s freestyle slopestyle (qualifications, Maria Gasslitter in Livigno);
• 11.30 am: alpine skiing, downhill skiing (Mattia Casse, Giovanni Franzoni, Dominik Paris, Florian Schieder – in Bormio);
• 1.00 pm: cross-country skiing, women’s skiathlon (Anna Comarella, Martina Di Centa, Maria Gismondi – in Tesero);
• 2pm; freestyle, slopestyle (qualifying; Miro Tabanelli – in Livigno);
• 2.35pm: curling, mixed doubles, Italy-Sweden (group stage – Stefania Constantini/Amos Mosaner – in Cortina);
• 2.40 pm: ice hockey, Italy-Sweden (group stage – Milan Santa Giulia Ice Hockey Arena);
• 4.00 pm: speed skating, 3000 meters (Francesca Lollobrigida – at the Milano Ice Park);
• 5.00pm and 6.32pm: men’s luge (1st and 2nd heat – Leon Felderer, Dominik Fischnaller, Alex Gufler in Cortina);
• 6.45pm: ski jumping, NH Individual women’s trampoline (Martina Ambrosi, Jessica Malsiner, Annika Sieff, Martina Zanitzer – in Predazzo);
• 7.05pm: curling, mixed doubles, Italy-Norway (group stage, Stefania Constantini/Amos Mosaner – in Cortina);
• 7.30pm: snowboarding, men’s big air (Ian Matteoli – in Livigno);
• 7.45pm: figure skating, team event, men’s short program (Daniel Grassl – in Milan);
• 10.05pm: figure skating, team event, free dance program (Marco Fabbri/Charle’ne Guignard – in Milan).