Team USA’s Winter Olympics nightmare continued on Thursday afternoon after a snowboarder’s dramatic comeback win was brutally overruled by officials.
American star Nathan Pare stunned spectators at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games after storming from the back of the pile and into first place as he crossed the finish line.
However, just moments after the race concluded, officials revealed that the event had gone to a review following a potential infringement from Pare.
As Pare embarked on his dramatic comeback, during one turn in the race, the back of his snowboard appeared to make slight contact with Spain’s Lucas Eguibar Breton’s board, causing his rival to lose control and crash.
After discovering the judge’s ruling, Pare voiced his frustration. ‘That’s insane,’ the Team USA star was overheard telling officials after the ruling.
Meanwhile, NBC’s commentary team seemed similarly disillusioned by the decision.
Team USA’s Nathan Pare had a dramatic comeback win overruled by Winter Olympic officials
Pare thought he’d won the race but, in the end, France’s Loan Bozzolo and Jonas Chollet advanced to the semi-finals
‘He stumbles a little bit, and he doesn’t see him back there,’ the announcer said on the Peacock live stream. ‘That did not look like it was on purpose’.
According to the snowboard cross rules, while minor, incidental contact is expected, deliberate interference is strictly prohibited.
There are three categories for interference – including intentional, involuntary and incidental. Only intentional interferences count for race disqualification.
With Pare omitted from the official standings, French snowboarders Jonas Chollet and Loan Bozzolo instead advanced to the competition’s semifinals.
The ordeal serves as just the latest time that France has snuck in ahead of Team USA in Milan, following drama in the figure skating on Wednesday afternoon.
On Wednesday, Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron secured the top spot on the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.
The French pair finished with a total score of 225.82 following their free dance, narrowly beating the American favorites.
Chock and Bates, who delivered a powerhouse performance, were forced to settle for silver with a score of 224.49 – a heartbreaking margin of just 1.42 points.
A race official explained the ruling to the disheartened snowboarder on Thursday
On Wednesday, Team USA’S Madison Chock and Evan Bates were denied Olympic gold by a French duo – Laurence Fournier-Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron – shrouded in controversy
Canada’s Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier took the bronze medal with a score of 217.74.
However, the win has been overshadowed by the dark clouds hanging over both skaters’ personal lives.
The duo only partnered up in March 2025, but their brief career together has been dogged by ‘toxic’ allegations from their pasts.
Fournier Beaudry has faced intense scrutiny over her relationship with boyfriend and former skating partner, Nikolaj Sorensen.
Meanwhile, Cizeron arrived in Milan facing explosive claims from his former gold-medal-winning partner, Gabriella Papadakis.
