Norwegian skier throws poles after losing Olympic slalom gold in blizzard

Snowstorm conditions caused chaos for participants during the men’s alpine skiing slalom competition at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, with the medal favorite losing his cool at the end of Monday’s runs.

52 of the 96 competitors who took to the field could not complete their first run on the mountain due to snow. Skiers had difficulty keeping their balance, let alone hitting the doors.

Competing in his second Olympic Games, Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath was leading the field after a disastrous first run suffered by most of his competitors.

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McGrath had a massive 59-second lead going into the second run; This is great for any slalom skier hoping to take home gold.

But McGrath, who went both sides of the gate on his second run, ruined his chances of taking home any medal, let alone gold.

McGrath knew this and reacted that way, throwing his ski poles in frustration. Later, after getting off the trail, he lay in the snow with his hands over his head, wondering what had gone wrong.

ILIA MALIN’S PRESS CONFERENCE WAS POSTPONED ONE DAY AFTER THE EIGHTH PLACE OF THE OLYMPICS

In contrast, Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard won the gold medal, Fabio Gstrein took the silver and McGrath’s Norwegian teammate Henrik Kristoffersen won the bronze.

“This is amazing,” Meillard said after winning the gold medal. New York Post. “It’s been long days, there’s a lot of expectation and a lot of pressure on yourself about what you want to achieve.”

“It’s great, it’s a really nice, cool feeling,” Gstrein added after winning her silver medal.

Atle Lie McGrath of Norway paces the course during the alpine skiing men’s slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy, on Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

McGrath’s elimination in the second round despite being the gold medal favorite is yet another example of how these Winter Games are not going 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 highly anticipated gold medal finishers who have had vanishing moments in the decisive events.

After 17-year-old South Korean Gaon Choi made a clean final run to surpass first place, Kim needed a score over 90 in her third attempt in the women’s halfpipe to make Olympic history by winning three consecutive gold medals.

Kim fell after trying a trick, leaving him with the silver medal.

Norwegian Atle Lie McGrath reaches the finish area of ​​the alpine skiing men’s slalom race at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy, on Monday, February 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

As for Malinin, he was not on the podium like Kim, who fell twice in the men’s free skate. The 21-year-old player, nicknamed the “Quadruple God”, shocked everyone in Milan by finishing the competition in eighth place.

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But that’s the nature of the high-pressure moments the Olympics can bring out in these athletes. Execution is key and disappointment can arise when things don’t go as hoped.

In McGrath’s case, that frustration included some direct shots.

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