From ‘Sweet Caroline’ to ‘Hopp Suisse,’ Von Allmen steals show with downhill gold at skiing worlds

SAALBACH-HINTERGLEMM, Austria (AP) — “Oh, oh, oh. So good. So good.”

The words of “Sweet Caroline” reverberated through the narrow Alpine valley hosting the skiing world championships as the crowd of 22,500 belted out the famous lyrics in celebration of Austrian veteran and home favorite Vincent Kriechmayr.

Oh no was the response from Swiss upstart Franjo von Allmen two skiers later.

The 23-year-old Von Allmen pushed Kriechmayr down a spot and grabbed gold in the marquee men’s downhill on Sunday to announce himself as the sport’s next big thing.

Take it from Marco Odermatt, the already established star of the Swiss team who took gold in super-G two days earlier and placed fifth this time.

“He can win every race,” Odermatt said.

Von Allmen trailed Kriechmayr at the penultimate checkpoint on the Schneekristall (snow crystal) course before accelerating through the last gates and soaring 52.5 yards (48 meters) — more than half the length of a football field — off the final jump.

Von Allmen finished 0.24 seconds ahead of silver medalist Kriechymayr and 0.31 ahead of bronze medalist Alexis Monney, another rising Swiss racer.

“It’s crazy,” Von Allmen said as the Swiss fans in the crowd took over with their chants of “Hopp Suisse” (Go Switzerland). “One day it’s Odermatt, the other day two other athletes from the Swiss team. It’s really fun we can push each other like this. It’s pretty, pretty cool.”

During the podium ceremony, Von Allmen was named the “Weltmeister” (world champion) by Austrian downhilling great Franz Klammer, the 1976 Olympic champion.

The host country surely would have preferred to have Klammer awarding an Austrian skier. But Switzerland has dominated the downhills on the World Cup circuit all season, with four wins and five second places in five events.

“(Odermatt) is always telling us which line he’s going to take. We’re exchanging a lot in our team and maybe that’s also why it’s working so well,” Monney said.

While Von Allmen has yet to win a World Cup downhill, he did finish runner-up three times this season. He also won a super-G on home snow in Wengen last month.

“We knew he’s good but maybe not this good,” said Stefan Rogentin, another Swiss racer.

There was a time, though, when nobody knew what might become of Von Allmen. That's because his skiing career nearly ended at age 17 when his father died and he lacked the financial means to continue racing.

But Von Allmen set up a crowd-funding project that gathered 16,000 Swiss francs ($17,600), qualified for the national C team the following year and then won three silver medals, including one in downhill, at the 2022 junior worlds in Canada.

A trained carpenter, Von Allmen still works on construction sites in the offseason in his home valley of Simmental.

“It’s important to bring something different in my head,” he said.

Several teammates described Von Allmen as “crazy” for his full-on approach to skiing.

“The second training in Kitzbuehel, he goes always 100%,” Rogentin said. “Sometimes that’s a little bit crazy. He (doesn’t) brake.”

And while they enjoy being with him on the hill, none of his teammates want to share a room with Von Allmen. That’s because he snores too loud, Rogentin confirmed.

For worlds, Von Allmen is sharing a suite with Monney. But there probably won’t be too much sleeping going on anytime soon in their two rooms.

“It’s going to be a big party tonight,” Von Allmen said.

The race did not go as planned for Ryan Cochran-Siegle, the American who had led two of the three training sessions.

Cochran-Siegle finished 13th after an error-strewn run and some heavy landings on the jumps.

“I didn’t ski fast enough,” said Cochran-Siegle, the Olympic super-G silver medalist. “I just didn’t execute.”

The top American finisher was Bryce Bennett in 10th.

After Breezy Johnson won the women’s downhill on Saturday, the American men were aiming for an unprecedented sweep.

“Ryan and I in downhill can compete for the win every single weekend,” Bennett said. “We’re missing a little bit of that confidence on race day.”

In a year, men’s skiing for the Milan-Cortina Olympics will be held on the Stelvio course in Bormio, where Cochran-Siegle has won a World Cup super-G and claimed three other top-five finishes.

But the Swiss are the early favorites for the Olympics. After all, Monney and Von Allmen finished 1-2 in the Bormio downhill this season.

“They are the team to beat right now,” Cochran-Siegle said, “and we’re just all trying to play catch-up.”

Associated Press writer Eric Willemsen contributed.

AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen, with his hair partially shaved off, wears the gold medal for a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen shows his gold medal for a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen, left, shows his gold medal for a men's downhill race, next to bronze medalist Switzerland's Alexis Monney, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (Jean-Christophe Bott/Keystone via AP)

United States' Bryce Bennett speeds down the course during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

United States' Ryan Cochran Siegle checks his time at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Alexis Monney, back to camera, bronze medalist in a men's downhill race, hugs gold medalist Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen is airborne during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen, center, winner of a gold medal in a men's downhill race, celebrates on the podium with silver medalist Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr, left, and bronze medalist Switzerland's Alexis Monney, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Gold medalist in a men's downhill race Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen, left, and bronze medalist Switzerland's Alexis Monney, celebrate with the team, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen celebrates winning a gold medal in a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen celebrates at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts with dejection at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Marco Odermatt speeds down the course during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Switzerland's Alexis Monney celebrates at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Austria's Vincent Kriechmayr speeds down the course during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Fans hold a banner for Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen is airborne during a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Trovati)

Switzerland's Franjo von Allmen celebrates at the finish area of a men's downhill race, at the Alpine Ski World Championships, in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, Austria, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Giovanni Auletta)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)