Team USA's challenging Winter Olympics campaign faced another significant setback on Thursday afternoon when a snowboarder's stunning comeback victory was dramatically overturned by event officials. American athlete Nathan Pare delivered a breathtaking performance at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, surging from the back of the pack to cross the finish line in first place during the snowboard cross competition.
Controversial Contact Leads to Disqualification
Moments after the race concluded, officials announced the event was under review due to a potential infringement involving Pare. During his remarkable comeback, video footage revealed that the back of Pare's snowboard made slight contact with the board of Spanish competitor Lucas Eguibar Breton during a turn. This contact caused Eguibar Breton to lose control and crash out of the race.
Following the judge's ruling, Pare expressed visible frustration, reportedly telling officials, 'That's insane.' The decision also drew criticism from NBC's commentary team during their Peacock live stream coverage. One announcer observed, 'He stumbles a little bit, and he doesn't see him back there. That did not look like it was on purpose.'
Understanding Snowboard Cross Rules
According to official snowboard cross regulations, while minor and incidental contact is expected during races, deliberate interference is strictly prohibited. The rules categorize interference into three types: intentional, involuntary, and incidental. Only intentional interference typically results in race disqualification.
With Pare removed from the official standings, French snowboarders Jonas Chollet and Loan Bozzolo advanced to the competition's semifinals instead. This development represents another instance where French athletes have edged ahead of Team USA during these Milan Games.
French Success Continues in Milan
The snowboard cross controversy follows Wednesday's dramatic figure skating competition, where French pair Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron secured gold in ice dancing. They finished with a total score of 225.82 following their free dance performance, narrowly defeating American favorites Madison Chock and Evan Bates by just 1.42 points.
Chock and Bates delivered a powerful performance but ultimately settled for silver with a score of 224.49. Canada's Piper Gilles and Paul Poirier claimed the bronze medal with 217.74 points.
Controversy Surrounds French Skaters
The French skating victory has been somewhat overshadowed by personal controversies surrounding both athletes. Fournier Beaudry and Cizeron only partnered in March 2025, yet their brief collaboration has faced scrutiny due to allegations from their past relationships.
Fournier Beaudry has faced questions about her relationship with boyfriend and former skating partner Nikolaj Sorensen. Meanwhile, Cizeron arrived in Milan confronting explosive claims from his former gold-medal-winning partner, Gabriella Papadakis.
These back-to-back incidents involving French athletes surpassing American competitors have created a narrative of French success at Team USA's expense during these Winter Olympics. The disqualification of Nathan Pare represents not just a personal disappointment for the American snowboarder, but another chapter in what has become a challenging Games for the United States team.
