What Happened to Atle Lie McGrath in Men’s Slalom? Norwegian Star Faces Heartbreak After Stunning Lead

After a commanding Run 1 in the men’s alpine skiing slalom at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Atle Lie McGrath looked set to seize gold. But as a fierce blizzard swept in and competitors dropped out in droves, McGrath’s hopes were dashed when he failed to finish.

It was a crushing setback for the Norwegian star in his second Olympic outing.
McGrath finished in 1st place with a time of 56.14 in Run 1 of the event. Behind him were Loic Meillard of Switzerland and Fabio Gstrein of Austria.

Atle Lie McGrath’s Second Run In Men’s Slalom

Run 1 of the men’s slalom proved highly difficult for many, as poor visibility, slick ice, and variable snow conditions led to 44 of the 96 skiers failing to finish. Run 2 of the event was even more chaotic, with only 39 skiers ultimately finishing the race.

McGrath, who was leading in first place by 0.59, recorded a DNF as well. He straddled a pole on his final run in the opening sector, ending his hopes of the gold medal. It was Meillard who grabbed gold with a total time of 1:53.61, with Gstrein following closely behind with 1:53.96. Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway won bronze with a time of 1:54.74.

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McGrath was visibly devastated by the outcome. He had arrived in Milan determined to surpass his Beijing 2022 results, where he finished 31st in slalom and did not finish the giant slalom.

McGrath On His Friendship With Lucas Pinheiro Braathen

McGrath burst onto the scene during the 2020-21 World Cup, earning his first podium with a third-place finish in giant slalom at Alta Badia, Italy. He later celebrated his maiden slalom victory at the same venue in December 2025, then electrified fans with consecutive wins in Wengen, Switzerland, in January 2026.

McGrath recently spoke about his friendship with Brazilian ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen. Braathen finished second to McGrath at the slalom in Switzerland.

“The thing about Lucas and I is that we met when we were 12-years-old and we skied together every year when we were 12 until 2023, so we had over ten years together of skiing. So we’ve been through great moments with really bad moments, like getting injured on the same day and being out for the season. It’s built a friendship that goes beyond just the results, and I’m very thankful for it,” he said.

Braathen also competed in the slalom today at the Winter Olympics, where he registered a DNF. He won gold in the men’s giant slalom earlier, marking Brazil’s first-ever Winter Olympic medal.