Marco Odermatt - Winter Olympics

If you’ve been following the 2026 Winter Olympics at all, you probably thought Marco Odermatt was going to win everything. Everyone did. But literally out of nowhere, this 24 year old Swiss guy named Franjo von Allmen showed up and basically took over the entire mountain. At the end of the Olympics, Franjo was the biggest story in Italy. He had won three gold medals in less than a week. He won gold in Downhill, the Team Combined, and the Super G. No male skier has won three golds at a single Olympics since 1968. 

What’s really cool about Franjo' story is that he’s not some kid who grew up skiing his entire life. He’s actually a trained carpenter from a tiny village called Boltigen. He spends his summers working on construction sites and fixing motocross bikes. This historic Olympic run almost didn’t happen though. When he was 17, his dad passed away suddenly and his family almost couldn't afford for him to keep racing. He had to start a fundraising page to pay for his gear and travel. 

Even with three gold medals around his neck, he’s still acting humble. When reporters asked him how he’s winning so much, he just said it feels like a movie and that he’s just trying to have fun. He even admits he’s a crazy skier who takes risks, but clearly it’s working. It’s very cool to see an underdog see success and remain humble through the wins. (Olympics.com, NBC, AFP)