Boltigen, Switzerland – The village of Boltigen in the Bernese Oberland region held a celebratory reception Friday evening for Franjo von Allmen, the Swiss skier who captured three gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. Hundreds gathered to honor von Allmen, who won gold in the downhill, Super-G, and team alpine events.
The festivities took place in a tent erected near the village school, with a large screen broadcasting the event for those unable to attend in person. Von Allmen, visibly moved by the outpouring of support, casually carried his gold medals in his pocket as he addressed the crowd, according to reports.
Children and young skiers from the local ski club were given the opportunity to pose for photos with their idol. Von Allmen has made a point of engaging with the community since his return from the Olympics, participating in races with club members and challenging skiers from the Simmental region.
The entire region demonstrated its pride, with numerous homes and farms adorned with banners proclaiming “Bravo Franjo” and displaying painted Olympic rings on bedsheets. The celebration reflects the deep connection between von Allmen and his home community, which played a crucial role in his journey to Olympic success.
Von Allmen’s fan club, “Franatiker,” founded in 2022 with just thirteen members, has grown to over 1600, demonstrating the widespread enthusiasm for the athlete. The village itself has even redecorated its welcome signs in honor of its champion.
The reception followed a late afternoon of preparations as Boltigen geared up to welcome its Olympic hero, according to Swissinfo.ch. Lian, Romina, Jan, Theo, and Katja, fans from the Simmental region, expressed their intention to celebrate “without finish,” planning to continue the festivities until 2:00 AM to properly honor von Allmen, describing him as a “sauglatter Typ” – a very likeable guy.