norwegian skier abandons race after losing olympic lead

2026-02-16 buitenland

Bormio, maandag, 16 februari 2026.
atle lie mcgrath entered the second slalom run as the leader, carrying norway’s best hope for gold at the 2026 winter olympics in bormio. moments after missing a gate, he removed his skis, threw his poles into the crowd and walked off the course. cameras followed as he lay down alone in the snow, overwhelmed by emotion. mcgrath had recently lost his grandfather, posting days earlier that it was the toughest period of his life. switzerland’s loic meillard seized the opportunity to claim gold, while chaos unfolded around repeated disqualifications. the image of mcgrath walking away became the defining moment of the event.

italy hosts dramatic slalom finale amid emotional turmoil

The men’s slalom event at the 2026 Winter Olympics unfolded in Bormio, Italy, under intense pressure and challenging weather conditions [1]. Atle Lie McGrath led after the first run, positioning Norway for a potential gold medal victory [2]. However, the second run descended into drama when McGrath missed a gate early, ending his chances [3]. Visibly distraught, he discarded his poles and removed his skis, walking off the course in a widely publicized breakdown [4].

mcgrath’s personal grief amplifies athletic disappointment

Just days before the competition, McGrath lost his grandfather, whom he publicly honored on social media [5]. On February 14, 2026, he posted that he was enduring one of the hardest periods of his life, dedicating his performance to his late grandfather [6]. His emotional state likely intensified the impact of his failure in the slalom, an event where he previously earned silver at the 2025 World Championships [1]. Teammate Timon Haugan described the situation as “heartbreaking” [7].

swiss triumph amidst widespread disqualification

Following McGrath’s disqualification, Switzerland’s Loic Meillard claimed gold, capitalizing on consistent runs despite chaotic conditions [3]. Austrian Fabio Gstrein secured silver, finishing 0.35 seconds behind Meillard, while Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen took bronze, 1.07 seconds off the pace [8]. Over half the competitors—56 of 95—failed to finish due to worsening snowfall and technical difficulties [8]. Meillard acknowledged the volatility of slalom racing, stating he had experienced similar setbacks [7].

public reaction mirrors rawness of elite competition

Footage of McGrath lying alone in the snow circulated rapidly across global media platforms [4]. Fellow athletes expressed empathy, with Kristoffersen recalling his own 2018 Olympic crash while leading the slalom [7]. He emphasized that such emotional reactions are natural in high-stakes environments. Meillard echoed this sentiment, noting sportsmanship includes accepting both fortune and misfortune [7]. The incident highlighted the psychological toll of elite alpine skiing, especially during emotionally charged circumstances [5].

Bronnen

Winterspelen slalom