— Atle Lie McGrath of Norway left the men’s Olympic slalom course in Bormio after missing a gate in his second run, abandoning his skis and walking toward the woods as a potential gold slipped away. Loïc Meillard of Switzerland ultimately won the gold on the Stelvio, with Austria’s Fabio Gstrein taking silver and Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen bronze. McGrath had held a 0.59-second advantage after the first run and posted a first-run time of 56.14 seconds, but recorded a DNF in the decisive second pass.
Key takeaways
- Atle Lie McGrath DNF in the second run of the men’s Olympic slalom at Bormio on Feb. 16, 2026; he had a 0.59-second lead after run one.
- McGrath’s first-run time was 56.14 seconds; Loïc Meillard’s winning combined time was 1:53.00.
- Loïc Meillard (SUI) won gold, Fabio Gstrein (AUT) silver, Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) bronze.
- McGrath, 25, is a five-time World Cup slalom winner and was leading this season’s World Cup slalom standings.
- McGrath lost his grandfather, aged 83, on the night of the opening ceremony; he had said the bereavement made competing feel almost impossible.
- The Stelvio course produced rapidly improving visibility: morning snowfall gave way to afternoon sun, altering race conditions between runs.
- McGrath removed his skis, threw his poles, and walked toward the tree line after missing the gate, an emotional exit captured by on-site photography.
Background
The men’s slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics was held on the Stelvio slope in Bormio, a technically demanding course known for steep pitches and variable light. Athletes who start early in the order often face worse visibility when snowfall or flat light is present; McGrath opened the field in the first run and posted a time of 56.14 seconds under those tougher conditions. By the afternoon, the sun improved visibility and the snow settled, changing the dynamics for later starters.
McGrath, born in Vermont and now 25, arrived at these Games as one of the season’s most consistent slalom performers: five World Cup slalom wins and the current leader in the World Cup slalom standings. He was seeking his first Olympic medal. The emotional context of these Olympics included a personal bereavement for McGrath—his grandfather died at age 83 on the night of the opening ceremony—a factor he had publicly described as making the challenge of competing particularly fraught.
Main event
After a strong first run that left him perched ahead of rivals by 0.59 seconds, McGrath needed a clean second run to secure the gold. Early in the second descent, traversing a section near the top, he straddled a gate and thereby missed it, which triggers an automatic disqualification in slalom. Recognizing the missed gate, McGrath took off his skis, threw both poles off to the side of the course and walked toward the left-woods, sitting in the snow as the race proceeded.
Loïc Meillard capitalized on the open opportunity and completed two solid runs to post a combined winning time of 1:53.00. At the finish area, Meillard was visibly emotional, hands covering his mouth as the realization of Olympic gold set in. Fabio Gstrein moved into second and Henrik Kristoffersen rounded out the podium, shifting the medal distribution in a race that had seemed to tilt in McGrath’s favor after run one.
Race officials recorded McGrath as a DNF for the second run; the official standings reflect Meillard (gold), Gstrein (silver) and Kristoffersen (bronze). Photographers and broadcasters captured McGrath’s immediate reaction—pole-throwing and a solitary walk toward the woods—moments that quickly circulated across coverage of the event.
Analysis & implications
Technically, slalom leaves little margin for error: a small misalignment at gate entry or a ski too far inside can produce a straddle and automatic elimination. McGrath’s first-run advantage reflected both skill and the difficulty of opening in poor visibility; statistically, early starters in fresh snow can either gain an edge by avoiding late-course deterioration or lose time if visibility hampers clean lines.
Emotion and concentration are central in one-run-or-bust segments of the Olympics. McGrath’s recent bereavement is a factual factor in his personal narrative; sport psychology research indicates grief can impede focus and energy, though individual responses vary. Whether grief materially affected his second run cannot be proven from observation alone, but the context helps explain the depth of his visible reaction.
For Norway, the result is a missed opportunity to convert World Cup dominance into Olympic hardware in this discipline; for Switzerland, Meillard’s gold underscores depth and preparation on a classic Alpine slope. The outcome may influence national program reviews on athlete support for mental-health and bereavement resources at major events.
Comparison & data
| Athlete | First run | Combined / result |
|---|---|---|
| Atle Lie McGrath (NOR) | 56.14 | DNF (run 2) |
| Loïc Meillard (SUI) | — | 1:53.00 (gold) |
| Fabio Gstrein (AUT) | — | Silver |
| Henrik Kristoffersen (NOR) | — | Bronze |
The table highlights McGrath’s strong opening run and the ultimate DNF in run two; official timing lists Meillard as the event winner. Course and weather swings between runs are crucial—morning snowfall challenged early starters, while afternoon sun changed surface speed and visibility for later competitors.
Reactions & quotes
Team officials, broadcasters and fans reacted rapidly as images of McGrath’s departure circulated. Coverage emphasized both the sporting consequence and the human dimension of an athlete visibly coping with loss on an Olympic stage.
“To lose someone I’m so close to and then be expected to go and ski at the Olympics, it’s felt impossible.”
Atle Lie McGrath (athlete)
“Loïc Meillard — combined time: 1:53.00.”
Olympic official results
Unconfirmed
- Whether grief over his grandfather’s death directly altered McGrath’s physical performance in the second run is not established by available evidence.
- Any private team conversations or second-run tactics discussed immediately before McGrath’s descent have not been publicly disclosed.
Bottom line
The men’s slalom in Bormio became a vivid example of how Olympic sport combines technical precision and intense emotion: Atle Lie McGrath led after run one but did not finish his second run, turning a likely podium moment into a stark personal scene on the slope. Loïc Meillard took gold, seizing the opening left by McGrath’s mistake.
Beyond the medals, the episode highlights two takeaways for teams and organizers: the narrow technical margins in slalom that leave room for abrupt reversals, and the importance of mental-health support for athletes confronting significant personal loss during major competitions. Attention will now turn to how national programs respond and how athletes process this event in the remainder of the season.
Sources
- The New York Times (news report)
- IOC official results and event coverage (official)