OLYMPICS: Alpine skiing-Switzerland's Meillard wins gold but it's heartbreak for McGrath

BORMIO, Italy — Switzerland’s Loic Meillard captured the nation’s first men’s Olympic slalom gold since 1948 on Monday, while Norway’s Atle Lie McGrath endured heartbreak after a stunning misstep ended his medal hopes.

McGrath, determined to honor his grandfather who passed away on the day of the opening ceremony, held a commanding 0.59-second lead after a flawless first run in heavy, driving snow. The U.S.-born skier appeared on track for gold, only to falter in the second leg, misjudging an early gate and straddling it, leaving Meillard to claim victory.

Meillard, second-fastest in the first run, delivered a spectacular second effort in the penultimate run of the day, edging out Austria’s Fabio Gstrein by 0.35 seconds. Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway took bronze, 1.13 seconds behind, repeating his Sochi 2014 result.

"Crazy day, crazy Olympics. To have three races, three medals, and top it with a gold is perfect," said Meillard, who also won silver in the team combined event and bronze in the super-G.

For McGrath, the disappointment was crushing. After his run, he tossed his skis and poles aside and walked into the nearby forest, needing a moment alone. Minutes later, he was escorted back to the finish area by police Ski-Doo, silently processing the loss, though he later spoke to the media at the team hotel in Bormio.

"It was a mix of shock and just everything in between, a surreal feeling," McGrath said. "I haven’t really experienced anything like it before."

Despite McGrath’s heartbreak, Meillard’s performance shone. He becomes the first Swiss man to win Olympic slalom since Edy Reinalter in 1948 and will return home with a complete medal collection, adding to his slalom world title from last year.

"We are all friends and know how tough slalom can be," Meillard said. "But when we’re at the start gate, we all want to beat each other. Atle was the best skier this season and deserved it as well, but that’s part of sport."

Heavy Weather Challenges Skiers

The final men’s alpine skiing event faced treacherous conditions, with heavy snow reducing visibility. Only 44 of 96 starters completed the first run. Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the Norway-born Brazilian and giant slalom champion, crashed out, proving the course’s difficulty.

"Man, this sport takes you up to the sky and slams you back down just as fast," Braathen said — words that foreshadowed McGrath’s own disappointment.

Timon Haugan of Norway finished fourth and empathized with his teammate: "He did everything right to win the Olympic gold, and then that happens in 15 seconds. It’s just heartbreaking."

Kristoffersen reflected on the emotional nature of the sport: "In the end, it’s not going to make or break his career. What are sports without emotions?" -Reporting by Martyn Herman; additional reporting by Lisa Jucca and Marleen Kasebier; Editing by Hugh Lawson and Christian Radnedge/Reuters