Switzerland's Loic Meillard claimed gold in the men's slalom at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Bormio, Italy, on February 16, 2026, marking the first Swiss victory in the event since 1948. Norway's Atle Lie McGrath, who led after the first run, suffered a dramatic fall from contention by straddling a gate and skiing out, leading to an emotional outburst. The race featured variable weather and several crashes, including Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen.
The men's slalom on February 16, 2026, in Bormio, Italy, concluded the alpine program at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics with a mix of fog, snow, sunshine, and high drama. Loic Meillard of Switzerland delivered a strong second run to secure gold, becoming the first Swiss man to win Olympic slalom since the 1948 St. Moritz Games. Meillard, who also earned silver in the team combined and bronze in the giant slalom earlier in the Games, celebrated with Norway's bronze medalist Henrik Kristoffersen at the finish area.
Norway's Atle Lie McGrath entered the second run with a significant lead in his strongest event but straddled a gate, resulting in a did-not-finish (DNF). The 25-year-old, born in Vermont and raised in Norway—where his father Felix competed for the U.S. at the 1988 Calgary Olympics—tossed his ski poles over the safety netting and retreated into the nearby woods, lying on his back in the snow. McGrath later explained his need for solitude, stating, “I thought that I would get some peace and quiet, which I didn’t,” after photographers and police followed him. He has been grieving the death of his grandfather on the opening ceremony day, wearing an armband in tribute.
Teammate Timon Haugan, who finished fourth, described the incident as “heartbreaking,” noting McGrath's near-perfect first run. Kristoffersen, reflecting on his own 2018 Pyeongchang disappointment, said, “In the end, it’s another ski race... He is a great skier. If he keeps going like he’s going, he will have great success for the future.” Meillard acknowledged the sport's unpredictability: “The beauty of slalom is that when it works out it’s beautiful... I was definitely sorry for him, but at the end, all the times he won when I skied out — that’s part of the game.”
Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen crashed in the first run. A Swiss coach's premature celebration near McGrath's error prompted an apology from the Swiss team to Norway.
