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3w ago

Loïc Meillard Takes Olympic Slalom Gold After McGrath Skis Out in Snow-Hit Finale

The victory sealed Switzerland’s fourth men’s alpine title in Bormio as brutal weather upended a 96-man field.

Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Freestyle Skiing - Women's Freeski Big Air Final - Livigno Snow Park, Livigno, Italy - February 16, 2026. Mathilde Gremaud of Switzerland receives medical attention after sustaining an injury during the warm up before the final. REUTERS/Hannah Mckay
Image
Kim Gil-li of South Korea (C) competes between Xandra Velzeboer of the Netherlands (L) and Courtney Sarault of Canada during the final of the women's 1,000-meter short track speed skating event at the Winter Olympics at Milano Ice Skating Arena in Milan on Feb. 16, 2026. (Yonhap)
Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics - Freestyle Skiing - Women's Freeski Big Air Final - Livigno Snow Park, Livigno, Italy - February 16, 2026. Ailing Eileen Gu of China during the warm up before the Women's Freeski Big Air Final REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Overview

  • The Swiss world champion won by 0.35 seconds over Austria’s Fabio Gstrein, with Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen earning bronze.
  • First-run leader Atle Lie McGrath straddled a gate early in his second run and left the piste in visible anguish as he continues to race following his grandfather’s recent death.
  • Heavy snow and poor visibility decimated the field, with only 44 of 96 starters completing the first run, and giant slalom winner Lucas Pinheiro Braathen among the crashes.
  • The title delivered Switzerland’s first men’s Olympic slalom champion since 1948 and completed Meillard’s set after combined silver and giant slalom bronze.
  • Elsewhere Monday, the Netherlands’ Xandra Velzeboer won the women’s short track 1,000m, and Norway led the overall medal count in the morning update.