Ryan Cochran-Siegle claims back-to-back Olympic silver in men's super-G at Milano Cortina 2026

American skier Ryan Cochran-Siegle delivered a standout performance in the men's super-G at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio, securing silver at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. This marks his second consecutive Olympic silver in the event, following his 2022 Beijing podium finish. Remarkably, the achievement came exactly 54 years after his mother, Barbara Cochran, won gold in slalom at the 1972 Sapporo Games.

Ryan Cochran-Siegle after winning silver medal

"I have been able to draw inspiration from other Team USA athletes so far," Cochran-Siegle said, highlighting downhill champion Breezy Johnson and cross-country sprint silver-medallist Ben Ogden.

“Seeing their performances, I think reinstilled the belief in myself and that inspiration was really key.”

Overcoming illness for a strong comeback

Ryan Cochran-Siegle, 33, entered the race as Team USA's top hope in men's Alpine skiing after a tough downhill result days earlier, where he finished 18th. He revealed battling illness during that event.

"It wasn't my best day. Tough when you wake up feeling nauseous," Cochran-Siegle recalled. "I was really trying to focus on the race, but I was definitely dealing with a little bit of a stomach issue. I tried to ski my hardest, but I definitely didn't have it in my legs; a little sickness, really, throws you off. And I think that was disappointing, all the work that goes into it."

He rebounded impressively, feeling "90 percent" better after rest and hydration. Earlier training on the same hill had shown promise, with a top downhill time of 1:56.08 on February 4.

"Just having energy in my legs, too, I think, was giving me confidence and that helped," he added. "When I'm coming off a tough race, sometimes it takes a little bit to kind of reset. So yeah, I just had to kind of move on. Sometimes it's good to be a goldfish."

Thrilling race action

Starting third, Ryan Cochran-Siegle posted 1:25.45, leading early. Swiss star Franjo von Allmen edged him out with 1:25.32, claiming gold by 0.13 seconds. Marco Odermatt, the heavy favorite and World Cup leader, took bronze at 1:25.60.

Von Allmen's victory made him the third man to win three Alpine golds at one Olympics, the first since Jean-Claude Killy in 1968. He previously triumphed in downhill and team combined.

Cochran-Siegle held off Odermatt despite the Swiss skier's dominance in super-G seasons. Other US skiers struggled, including Sam Morse (23rd), Kyle Negomir (26th), and River Radamus (DNF).