The depth of defeat was on heartbreaking display at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Monday, Feb. 16.
Atle Lie McGrath, a ski racer who was born in Vermont and competes for Norway, had a lead of 0.59 seconds in the men’s slalom before he began his second and final run in the Alpine skiing event.
Moments later, he missed a gate on the course, leading to disqualification and something almost as stunning.
McGrath, 25, threw his ski poles. He clomped in his ski boots to the side of the run and fell back onto the snow. Then he rose to his feet and started marching across the snow, destination unknown at Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio.
It turns out McGrath already had suffered a painful loss.
