MILANO CORTINA, Italy – Cormac Comerford completed his long-awaited Olympic debut Saturday, finishing last among those who finished the men’s downhill race at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. Despite placing at the bottom of the leaderboard, the Glenageary native expressed satisfaction with his performance on one of the world’s most challenging downhill courses.
Comerford navigated the treacherous Stelvio slope in a time of 2:04.40, finishing 12 seconds behind gold medalist Franjo von Allmen of Switzerland, who clocked a winning time of 1:51.61. Italy’s Giovanni Franzoni secured silver with a time of 1:51.81, while Dominik Paris rounded out the podium with a bronze medal in 1:52.11.
“I’m sure everyone at home is buzzing, I’ve been getting so many messages,” Comerford said, acknowledging the support from his native Ireland. The 29-year-old’s journey to the Olympics has been marked by perseverance, having faced financial hurdles and overcoming a fall during Wednesday’s training run.
The road to the Olympics wasn’t easy. Comerford’s Olympic dream took three attempts to realize, and was supported by crowdfunding efforts when the cost of essential safety equipment became prohibitive. His fall during Wednesday’s training run on the notoriously difficult Stelvio slope added to the pressure, making Saturday’s successful completion of the race a significant achievement.
“My debut on the Stelvio, I’ll take it,” Comerford stated. “I’m really happy with how I managed these four days with the training, the official training, and the race today. It wasn’t the perfect run, but I can be pleased overall.”
The men’s downhill race saw a surprising upset as Von Allmen, a 24-year-old with only four World Cup downhill wins to his name, dashed the hopes of pre-race favorite Marco Odermatt, the four-time defending overall World Cup champion. Odermatt had led the field early on, appearing poised to claim his first Olympic downhill title, but ultimately fell short.
Comerford’s Olympic schedule isn’t over. He is slated to compete in three more events at Milano Cortina, beginning with the super-G on Wednesday. He is particularly looking forward to the slalom, which he considers his preferred discipline.
“I’ll be pushing hard to try and gain some places in the slalom. Top 30 will be a big achievement for me,” Comerford said, setting a realistic yet ambitious goal for his upcoming race.
The Irish team, comprised of four athletes, is making its mark at the Winter Olympics. Comerford joins his fellow Irish competitors in representing the nation on the world stage. The team’s presence highlights the growing interest and participation in winter sports within Ireland.
While Von Allmen’s victory was the headline of the day, the story of Cormac Comerford represents the spirit of the Olympics – dedication, resilience, and the pursuit of a dream against all odds. His debut, despite finishing last, is a testament to his commitment and a source of pride for his supporters back home.
The Milano Cortina Winter Olympics continue to deliver thrilling competition and inspiring stories, and all eyes will be on Cormac Comerford as he prepares for his next challenge on the slopes.
