However, the men’s downhill at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics delivered a real local jolt. Italy’s Dominik Paris pushed through a high-speed run in Bormio and secured the bronze medal. Giovanni Franzoni made it even sweeter for the hosts and claimed silver.
Switzerland’s Franjo von Allmen stayed razor-sharp and took gold. Still, Paris’s podium felt huge because he reached it at 36. He also joined a short list of older alpine medal winners. It’s the kind of finish that makes fans yell, and then yell again. Above all, that bronze looked earned, not gifted.
A groove metal frontman who also races downhill
Meanwhile, Paris doesn’t only chase split times and perfect lines. On the flip side, he also fronts an Italian groove metal band called Rise Of Voltage. He formed the project in 2017 with his brother Lukas, plus bassist Frank Pichler and drummer Florian Schwienbacher.
In comparison with the ski circuit, the band life runs on amps, sweat, and long nights. They released the album Time in 2018, and later followed with Escape in 2024. And yet the story isn’t some gimmick. It’s a legit second lane, and he seems to love it, even when it gets hectic.
How Paris balances Olympic pressure and stage nerves
Nevertheless, the contrast between downhill skiing and live vocals sounds kind of wild. On the contrary, Paris says racing feels more controllable because he knows the plan. He studies the course, he attacks the turns, and he commits. On stage, though, you can’t “carve” your way out of a shaky moment.
Still, that tension may help his mindset in both worlds. After all, elite sport and heavy metal both demand timing, stamina, and guts. The Olympic bronze now adds a sharp headline to his career. And it boosts Italy’s Milan Cortina 2026 story with a very human twist.
