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Blizzard conditions during the men’s alpine skiing slalom competition at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games caused chaos among participants, and a medal favorite lost his composure at the end of Monday’s races.
Of the 96 competitors present, 52 of them were unable to complete their first mountain runs due to snowy conditions. Skiers had trouble keeping their balance, let alone getting through each gate.
Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath, competing in his second Olympic Games, led the field after a disastrous first round for many of his opponents.
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Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath arrives at the finish of an alpine ski race, men’s slalom, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, February 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
McGrath held a huge lead of 59 seconds going into the second run, which is ideal for any slalom skier hoping to win gold.
But after riding a gate on her second run, McGrath ruined her chances of winning a medal, let alone gold.
McGrath knew this and created as such, throwing his ski poles in frustration. Then, after leaving the course, he lay in the snow with his hands on his head, wondering what was wrong.
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In turn, Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard won the gold medal, followed by Fabio Gstrein who took silver and McGrath’s Norwegian teammate Henrik Kristoffersen who took bronze.
“It’s amazing,” Meillard said after winning gold, according to the New York Post. “It’s been long days, a lot of expectations and what you want to achieve, a lot of pressure on yourself.”
Gstrein added: “The feeling is great, really nice and cool,” after winning his silver medal.
Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath races down the course, during a men’s alpine skiing and slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, February 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
McGrath’s elimination, despite being the gold medal favorite heading into the second round, is just another example of how these Winter Games have not gone as planned for many of the top athletes competing.
On the United States side, snowboarder Chloe Kim and figure skater Ilia Malinin are just two examples of expected gold medalists who had moments of fading during their decisive events.
Kim needed a score above 90 on her third attempt in the women’s halfpipe to make Olympic history with three consecutive gold medals after Gaon Choi, 17, of South Korea produced a flawless final run to overtake first place.
Kim fell after attempting a trick, leaving her with the silver medal.
Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath arrives at the finish of an alpine ski race, men’s slalom, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, February 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
As for Malinin, he didn’t make the podium like Kim, falling twice during the men’s free skate. The 21-year-old, nicknamed “Quad God”, finished eighth in the event, shocking everyone in Milan.
But that’s the nature of the high-pressure moments the Olympics can bring to these athletes. Execution is key, and when things don’t go the way you hope, frustration can be expressed.
In McGrath’s case, that frustration involved a pole throw.
