Mikaela Shiffrin Reacts to Norwegian Star's Emotional Post After Winter Olympics Loss

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Sami Haider | Last updated Feb 17, 2026 9:28 AM ET

Switzerland’s Loïc Meillard won gold in the men’s alpine skiing slalom final at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Monday at the Stelvio Ski Centre.

Meillard’s almost lucky victory came after first-run leader Atle Lie McGrath from Norway straddled a gate early in his second run and failed to finish despite having a 0.59-second advantage. He clocked a combined time of 1:53.61 to capture the gold while Austria's Fabio Gstrein took silver and Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen earned bronze.

McGrath was under heavy strain during the race. His grandfather, Svein Lie, had passed away on the night of the Opening Ceremony. So, the pressure of competing while grieving led to a raw emotional breakdown after his mistake on the course.

Despite holding a significant lead, McGrath straddled a gate and lost his chance at gold. Afterward, photographers and police found him lying on his back in the snow deep in the woods, trying to process the heartbreak alone.

Atle Lie McGrath of Norway competes during the men's giant slalom alpine skiing raceMichael Madrid-Imagn Images

He later told reporters that he simply needed to escape the situation. He had hoped to find some quiet outside the finish area, but photographers and police found him in the woods. He said he just needed time alone.

Then on Instagram, he dropped a heartfelt message, penning, "Dear Fafao❤️I gave it everything. Chasing the biggest dream of them all. I tried to pick up the broken pieces of my heart this past week, just for it to break all over again. Take care of the people you love, you never know how long you have them❤️"

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American alpine star Mikaela Shiffrin responded to McGrath's heartbreak via her Instagram story, sharing an image of him alone on the course and reflecting on Olympic pressure.

"The Olympics ask us to take a real risk on the world stage. One that requires courage and vulnerability to erroneous judgment and narratives built on a limited understanding of what this sport truly demands," Shiffrin wrote.

She added, "And it all matters in the story of becoming the best version of ourselves. We love deeply because we know loss. We feel the pain of defeat because we've tasted triumph. Heartbreak and victory live right next door. Disappointment and gratitude often co-exist."

The 30-year-old finished 11th in Sunday's giant slalom, marking her eighth consecutive Olympic event without a medal. Her final chance to reach the podium at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games comes this Wednesday. She has been seeking her first Olympic slalom medal since winning gold as a teenager in Sochi 12 years ago.

McGrath, however, entered the 2026 Winter Olympics as the World Cup slalom leader. However, he couldn't close it out on the sport's biggest stage.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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