When It Mattered Most, Nef Answered
The day ultimately belonged to Switzerland, as Tanguay Nef and Franjo von Allmen delivered when it mattered most to claim gold in the men’s team combined. Sitting fourth after the downhill, the Swiss duo entered the slalom with work to do, but Nef rose to the occasion with exactly the kind of run the format demands.
Under pressure, Nef laid down a confident, composed, and mistake-free slalom, attacking when needed and skiing with control where others faltered. His performance vaulted Switzerland into the lead, securing the victory by a commanding +0.99 seconds and sealing the win for the team. In a discipline where volatility is expected and margins are razor thin, Nef’s clean execution proved decisive.
The result marked a milestone moment for both athletes. For Franjo von Allmen, the gold was his second Olympic title, further cementing his place among Switzerland’s elite speed skiers. For Tanguay Nef, it was his first Olympic gold medal, adding to an already impressive résumé. A Dartmouth alumnus, Nef is a three-time First Team All-American, the 2018 NCAA slalom champion, and the 2019 NCAA giant slalom champion, credentials that were fully on display in the biggest moment of his career.
On a day defined by pressure, precision, and partnership, Switzerland once again showed the strength of its depth. The downhill set the stage, but the slalom decided the medals — and when it counted most, Nef and von Allmen delivered a championship-winning performance, together.
Austria and Switzerland Share the Silver
Tied for second, Austria’s Vincent Kriechmayr and Manuel Feller combined experience and execution to deliver Austria its first medal of the Games. Kriechmayr put down a solid downhill run that placed the team seventh, setting Feller up with a favorable middle start position for the slalom. From there, Feller executed beautifully, maintaining speed from top to bottom and posting the second-fastest sl slalom run, a performance that vaulted the Austrian duo onto the podium. The silver medal marked a meaningful moment for the team, with two of the circuit’s veterans coming together to deliver under pressure.
Sharing the silver medal were Switzerland’s Marco Odermatt and Loïc Meillard, who once again showcased their consistency as a team. Odermatt delivered a strong downhill run, finding the speed he had been searching for since the Olympic downhill and placing the duo third after the opening leg. Meillard followed in the slalom, and while his run lacked some of the confidence and fluidity seen throughout the season, it was composed enough to hold their position and secure silver. Together, the Swiss pair added yet another podium to an already impressive championship campaign for the Swiss men’s team.
“It’s a great feeling,” Meillard said. “We’re always racing against each other and today we could race together. That makes it very fun.”
More Than an Individual Race
The Bormio downhill set the stage for the men’s team combined, with 21 teams on the start list and a format that adds a unique layer of pressure to every run. Unlike traditional individual races, the team combined asks athletes to ski not only for themselves, but for a teammate as well. Two specialists, who often train separately and compete in different disciplines, are suddenly bound by one result. Every decision, every risk, and every mistake carries consequences beyond the finish line, heightening the intensity from the start gate. That shared responsibility turns each run into more than a personal performance, creating a true team dynamic where trust, commitment, and execution matter just as much as raw speed.
The Weight of a Shared Lead
Giovanni Franzoni brought exceptional speed in the downhill, but Alex Vinatzer was unable to hold onto the top spot for Italy in the slalom. Vinatzer appeared tentative from the start, skiing a higher and more conservative line than usual as he tried to manage the pressure of protecting the lead. In the team combined, athletes are not just skiing for themselves but carrying the responsibility of a teammate’s performance as well, and that added weight can sometimes creep into decision-making. Vinatzer pushed to find the rhythm and pace needed, but the speed never fully came, and the Italian team slid back to seventh place.
An All-In Effort for the Stifel U.S. Team
Kyle Negomir and River Radamus delivered a committed, all-in effort in the men’s team combined, embracing the risk and responsibility the format demands. Negomir, in the midst of a strong speed season, laid everything on the line in the downhill, pushing the line and taking the risks he knew were necessary to give the team a chance. While it did not fully come together on the day, the approach reflected intent and belief rather than hesitation.
In the slalom, Radamus, whose last World Cup slalom start came at the end of 2025 in Hafjell, Norway, stepped into a demanding role. Primarily a giant slalom and super-G specialist, he showed flashes of real brilliance, fighting for rhythm and speed despite limited recent slalom racing. Together, the American duo skied to a 19th-place finish.
With the U.S. team unable to name a full-time slalom specialist for the event after Ben Ritchie’s results came too late to meet the qualification cutoff, the performance highlighted both the challenges and the adaptability required in the team combined. Even so, Negomir and Radamus embodied the spirit of the event, committing fully and racing for more than just individual results.
Racing for More Than Yourself
For Kyle Negomir and River Radamus, the men’s team combined was about far more than results on a timing board. Negomir admitted the pressure shifted once the roles were reversed, saying he was “probably more nervous” watching Radamus ski the slalom than he was for his own downhill run. Growing up racing together at Ski & Snowboard Club Vail made the moment even more meaningful, as the shared history and mutual respect between Kyle Negomir and River Radamus added weight to every turn. For Radamus, stepping into the slalom was about honoring the effort Negomir had already put on the line and returning that commitment with one of his own.
“I was probably more nervous watching River than I was for my own race,” Negomir said. “Me and River, growing up skiing together, I’ve been getting beat by this dude for the last 10 years of my life. To be able to team up and to have seen firsthand all the sacrifices he puts in day in, day out, just makes me really proud to be on a team and to get to be a part of this.”
Radamus echoed the emotion from the slalom start. “I sat out here and I watched him on first run and I was sort of moved because he skied so hard,” he said. “He skied with all his heart and made a couple of mistakes, but he was skiing so fearlessly. Getting to race for my brother and for my country is a really special moment.”
Overall Results: Men’s Combined
Click Images to Enlarge
About the Author: Katie Twible
