Loic Meillard Wins Slalom Gold at 2026 Winter Olympics

Switzerland's Meillard claims men's slalom title

Loic Meillard of Switzerland wins men's slalom gold at the 2026 Winter Olympics, overcoming challenging weather conditions.

“I had to give it all and try my best. And when I saw some green, I was like, amazing...”

Loic Meillard made history by becoming Switzerland's first men's Olympic slalom champion since 1948, securing a dramatic victory at the Milano Cortina Games. Meillard's stunning win was marked by heartbreak for Norway's Atle Lie McGrath, who held a commanding 0.59-second lead but crashed out, leaving Meillard to claim gold with a 0.35-second margin over Austria's Fabio Gstrein.

Meillard's triumph completes a remarkable set of medals for the Swiss skier, who also won silver in the team combined and bronze in the super-G. McGrath's disappointment was palpable, having dedicated his performance to his late grandfather, who passed away on the day of the opening ceremony.

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath was on track for a gold medal in the men's slalom, aiming to honor his grandfather who passed away on the opening ceremony day. He held a 0.59-second lead after the first run, but it was all for naught as he straddled a gate early in his second run, blowing his chance at gold.

Loic Meillard of Switzerland seized the opportunity, delivering a stunning second run to claim the gold medal. McGrath's mistake handed Meillard a historic win, making him the first Swiss man to win the slalom since 1948. Meillard's winning margin was 0.35 seconds over Austria's Fabio Gstrein, with Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen taking bronze.

Atle Lie McGrath's heartbreak was palpable as he struggled to cope with the crushing disappointment of crashing out of the slalom event, just as gold seemed within his grasp. He had been racing to honor his late grandfather, Svein Lie, who passed away at 83 on the day of the opening ceremony.

In a poignant display of emotion, McGrath tossed his skis and poles aside and trudged through the deep snow into the adjacent trees, seeking solitude. Several minutes later, he was escorted back to the finish area in a police Ski-Doo, visibly distraught.

Loïc Meillard took home the gold medal with a winning margin of 0.35 seconds over Austria's Fabio Gstrein, who snagged silver. Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen claimed bronze, repeating his 2014 Sochi achievement, 1.13 seconds behind Gstrein.

“I had to give it all and try my best. And when I saw some green, I was like, amazing. A third medal, third race. You never know if it's going to ‌be gold or not,” Meillard said.

🥇 Just sensational skiing from Loic MEILLARD 🤯

The @SwissTeam athlete races through the gates to claim #Gold in an alpine skiing men's slalom event that kept on our toes until the very last second ⛷️ ⚡ @fisalpine | #MedalAlert | #Samsung | #OpenAlwaysWins |… pic.twitter.com/ZqXZKWghpp

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 16, 2026

“Atle would've deserved it as well. He was the best skier this season, but ‌that's part of slalom, that's part of sport.”

Loïc Meillard made history by becoming the first Swiss man to win the slalom gold medal since Edy Reinalter in 1948. He's returning home with a complete set of medals, having also won silver in the team combined and bronze in the super-G.