Loic Meillard Claims Olympic Slalom Gold as McGrath Falters, Braathen Exits Early

Overview

• Meillard overturned a 0.59-second deficit from the first run to win by 0.35 over Austria’s Fabio Gstrein, with Norway’s Henrik Kristoffersen taking bronze.
• First-run leader Atle Lie McGrath straddled a gate in the second run, surrendering a likely medal after setting the early pace.
• Brazil’s Lucas Pinheiro Braathen fell in the first run, ending his bid for a second medal two days after his giant slalom gold, the first Winter Olympic medal for Brazil and Latin America.
• Organizers advanced the top 30 from the first run to a reverse-order second run, but about 50 of the 96 starters failed to record a qualifying time in treacherous conditions.
• Brazil’s Giovanni Ongaro placed 31st and missed the cut for the second run, compatriot Christian Oliveira Soevik did not finish, and Portugal’s 18-year-old Emeric Guerillot was disqualified in the first run.