Quick Read
- Atle Lie McGrath led Run 1 of the Olympic men’s slalom at Milan/Cortina 2026 with a time of 56.14 seconds.
- McGrath failed to finish (DNF) Run 2 after straddling an early gate, ending his gold medal hopes.
- Loïc Meillard of Switzerland won the gold medal, with Fabio Gstrein (Austria) taking silver and Henrik Kristoffersen (Norway) bronze.
- Run 1 was marked by chaotic conditions and a high attrition rate, with 49 out of 96 racers failing to finish.
- McGrath raced with a heavy heart, as his grandfather had passed away on the day of the Opening Ceremony.
BORMIO (Azat TV) – Norwegian alpine ski racer Atle Lie McGrath, a strong contender for Olympic gold, saw his medal aspirations dramatically end on Monday at the Milan/Cortina 2026 Winter Games. After dominating the first run of the men’s slalom on the challenging Stelvio course, McGrath failed to finish the decisive second run, straddling an early gate and leaving the door open for Loïc Meillard of Switzerland to claim the gold medal.
The day began with immense promise for the 25-year-old Norwegian, who is the World Cup slalom leader and a silver medalist from the 2025 World Ski Championships. Despite chaotic conditions marked by light snow and poor visibility that led to a staggering 49 out of 96 racers failing to finish the first run, McGrath attacked the course with authority. He posted a commanding time of 56.14 seconds, building his advantage in the crucial lower sections and finishing a significant 0.59 seconds ahead of Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard.
McGrath’s Dominant First Run Amidst Chaos
The opening run of the Olympic men’s slalom was defined by its relentless attrition and the sheer difficulty of the Stelvio course under challenging weather. More than half the field, including several pre-race favorites, were unable to complete the run. Among those who failed to finish were Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, who had won giant slalom gold earlier in the Games and was fastest through the first two sectors before sliding out. Other notable DNFs included Austria’s Manuel Feller, Italy’s Alex Vinatzer, and the United States’ River Radamus.
McGrath’s performance in these conditions was a testament to his skill and composure, setting him up with a substantial lead that typically signals a strong path to victory. Observers noted his ability to accelerate through the flush and carry superior speed to the finish, a strategy that allowed him to grow stronger as other skiers faltered.
Dramatic Turn in the Second Slalom Run
As the second run commenced, the pressure was palpable. McGrath, with a commanding lead, was expected to consolidate his position for gold. However, disaster struck early in his run when he straddled a gate. Realizing his medal shot was over, an visibly frustrated McGrath stopped skiing, threw both of his poles, removed his skis, and walked off the course. He was later seen lying in the snow beside the track, his hands covering his face, a raw display of heartbreak.
This dramatic turn of events paved the way for Loïc Meillard, who capitalized on McGrath’s exit. Meillard, who had already secured a silver in the team combined and a bronze in the giant slalom at these Games, delivered a strong second run to clinch the gold with a combined time of 1 minute, 53.61 seconds. Austria’s Fabio Gstrein secured the silver medal, 0.35 seconds behind Meillard, while Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen took home the bronze, his second Olympic medal.
A Difficult Olympics for Atle Lie McGrath
McGrath’s emotional reaction was compounded by a difficult Olympics off the slopes. He revealed that his grandfather had passed away on the same day as the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, and he had worn an armband as a tribute. McGrath, who had penned an emotional social media tribute to his grandfather, stated his intention to ‘give it my all’ at the Games. Despite finishing fifth in the giant slalom and securing a silver at the 2025 World Championships in his favored slalom discipline, the Olympic gold remained elusive.
The men’s slalom also featured a ceremonial farewell run for AJ Ginnis of Greece, who skied down the course to applause from the crowd. Ginnis, a World Cup podium finisher and World Championship silver medalist in 2023, was forced into retirement due to an unhealed ankle injury, making Monday his first and last Olympic appearance.
The unpredictable nature of alpine ski racing, particularly in the high-stakes environment of the Winter Olympics, was on full display in Bormio, underscoring how quickly fortunes can change from leading the field to an unexpected exit.