The Japan Times - Von Allmen focuses on 'here and now' after making Olympic ski history

Switzerland's Von Allmen stormed to victory in Wednesday's super-G in Bormio for his third gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Games in five days of gripping action.

Austrian Toni Sailer and France's Jean-Claude Killy are the only other racers to have won a hat-trick of golds at a single Winter Olympics.

Sailer won the downhill, giant slalom and slalom races at the 1956 Cortina Olympics, a feat repeated by Killy at the 1968 Grenoble Games.

Only Croatia's Janica Kostelic has achieved the feat in women's skiing, at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

"Ski history is not that important for me, even if that sounds strange," said Von Allmen. "It's all about the here and now.

"It sounds stupid, but I'm not really interested in what's on the paper. For me, I'm really trying to enjoy the Olympics here, and maybe in a few years it will be important for me. But for now, it isn't really."

Von Allmen said he was still trying to get his head around his treble medal haul.

"I can't fully fathom what's going on!" he said.

"I can only say that these are my first Olympic Games and the races were perfect for me.

"All the pieces fell into place, luck was on my side somehow."

After claiming victory in Saturday's downhill, there is no doubt Von Allmen had hard-charging Tanguy Nef to thank as the pair claimed gold for Switzerland in Monday's team combined.

Nef laid down the fastest slalom run to seal the combined win after Von Allmen had finished fourth fastest in the event's opening downhill.

Come the super-G and Von Allmen benefited from a low bib number as the snow softened in increasingly clement conditions, meaning later racers struggled for speed.

- 'Faithful to myself -

The 24-year-old acknowledged, however, that his streak of good luck did not apply to everything in life, notably a board game against his countryman and super-G bronze medallist Marco Odermatt.

"Marco actually beat me!" he said of the World Cup leader.

Von Allmen added: "At the moment I can't fully grasp what these medals really mean and what they might mean for my future.

"I'll remain faithful to myself, remain identical to who I am, whether I win a medal or not.

"I believe life will continue along similar lines as it is now."

Silver medallist Ryan Cochran-Siegle, who also finished second in Beijing four years ago, praised Von Allmen's "spectacular" progression over the last couple of seasons.

"He's unbelievable," the American said. "He's such an awesome guy, such a fun skier to watch... he's having fun every single day.

"He's a great representation for our sport," Cochran-Siegle said, hailing the fact he had attained "legend status".

Odematt said Von Allmen had "great speed right now and he's doing fewer mistakes".

"Right now, he's in the flow of his life and with this, everything goes a bit easier."

In-form Italian Giovanni Franzoni, who finished sixth in the super-G after claiming silver in the downhill, called Von Allmen a "valuable champion".

"He's had an amazing week, three gold medals in three different disciplines. He's such a great athlete and such a nice guy.

"I'm trying to learn something about his skiing to make me faster.

"I needed to stay less on the edge, but it's ski racing -- sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but not for Franjo. He won all three races."

S.Ogawa--JT