American Nordic combined star Ben Loomis experienced a terrifying near-miss at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday, when he collided with a leaf blower left on his jump path during blizzard conditions. Shocking footage from the event captured the moment Loomis hurtled down the slope at high speed, only to smash through the errant equipment as he launched into his jump.
Blizzard Conditions Lead to Chaotic Scene
Due to severe weather during the competition, officials had been using leaf blowers to clear accumulated snow between athletes' jumps. However, in a critical lapse, one staff member failed to notice that Loomis had already begun his descent. While other personnel managed to pull their equipment away in time, one blower remained directly in the American's trajectory.
Miraculous Escape from Potential Disaster
Incredibly, Loomis appeared unfazed by the impact and completed his jump as planned, reaching a speed of 96.3 kilometers per hour and flying a distance of 116.0 meters. Television commentators were left stunned by the incident, with SVT's Peter Jonsson exclaiming: 'Geez, it could have ended in horror.'
The American athlete later revealed that the collision left a mark on his suit but fortunately only struck his shoulder. 'If it had hit me in the face, it would have been a completely different story,' Loomis told NRK in the aftermath. 'I've never experienced anything like this. Fortunately, it happened at the top, so I just tried to convince myself to make a good jump.'
Official Apology and Competition Aftermath
Officials immediately offered Loomis both an apology and the opportunity to retake his jump from the top of the slope. However, the American declined the offer, and his team chose not to appeal the incident to the judges. Competition director Lasse Ottesen expressed regret over the occurrence, stating: 'It is very regrettable that we had an incident with Loomis. It was good that nothing more happened, but it should not happen. The person has apologized to the jury and FIS [International Ski and Snowboard Federation] apologizes to the USA.'
Impact on Team Performance
The incident occurred during the Nordic Combined Team Sprint event, which combines ski jumping with cross-country skiing. Loomis had recorded a distance of 123.5 meters in his trial run, placing tenth in the standings, but managed only 116 meters in his competition jump following the collision. Combined with teammate Niclas Malacinski's 120-meter jump, the United States finished seventh in the ski jumping round.
The American team maintained that position through the cross-country portion, finishing 2 minutes and 24 seconds behind gold medal winners Norway. Finland secured the silver medal, while Austria took bronze. Earlier in the Games, Wisconsin-born Loomis had competed in the Individual Gundersen Large Hill event, where he ranked 27th.
This extraordinary incident highlights the challenges of maintaining safety during extreme weather conditions at elite sporting events, while showcasing Loomis's remarkable composure under potentially dangerous circumstances.
