He is the new downhill champion: Franjo von Allmen. © ANSA / ANNA SZILAGYI

Franjo von Allmen, the new poster boy of the ski world

He has stunned the skiing world - and he's only 23 years old. Franjo von Allmen won gold in the downhill race at the World Championships on Sunday. His career was hanging by a thread a few years ago after a stroke of fate.

09. February 2025

From: det/apa

The next Swiss speed comet has hit Saalbach-Hinterglemm. On Sunday, Franjo von Allmen, aged just 23, crowned himself the youngest downhill world champion since the German Hansjörg Tauscher in 1989. The powerhouse, who has only broken into the world elite this season with five podium finishes, succeeded his compatriot Marco Odermatt on the downhill throne.

Von Allmen only joined the World Cup two years ago, and this winter he celebrated his first victory in the Wengen Super-G. In his World Cup debut in the Super-G in Saalbach, the Swiss skier came away empty-handed in twelfth place, before beating all the other favorites with a fabulous ride in the downhill. "I knew I had nothing to lose in the downhill. It's my first World Championship. I just wanted to have fun skiing, and that worked out pretty well," said the new champion with a grin.

He lost his father early and feared for his career

Von Allmen's story is also marked by a stroke of fate. In 2017, the Swiss lost his father, and because money was tight, the trained carpenter was uncertain whether he would continue his career. With a fundraising campaign, the then 17-year-old finally saved his career and made it into the Swiss squad. Now Franjo von Allmen experienced a gigantic moment of glory with the world championship title.

Von Allmen is happy about his triumph. © APA/afp / KERSTIN JOENSSON

Two South Tyroleans were particularly happy on Sunday. Michael Gufler from Pfelders works as a trainer for the Swiss speed men and had a hand in von Allmen's success, as did Sepp Kuppelwieser. He is one of the best-known service men in the Ski World Cup and has been responsible for ensuring that von Allmen has fast head skis under his feet for two years. Kuppelwieser has also coached skiing greats such as Beat Feuz and Kjetil Andre Aamodt.

Von Allmen comes from Boltigen in Obersimmental in the canton of Bern. The new poster boy of the skiing world also lives out his passion for speed off the slopes by riding motocross or downhill mountain biking. But he is fastest on the ski slopes!