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Nathan Pares’ bid for gold at the 2026 Cortina Olympics in Milan came to an abrupt end on Day 6 of the Winter Games.
The second snowboard quarterfinal event of the day didn’t go as Pare probably hoped, with the American competing close to last place for most of the race. Pare gained some momentum around a turn, but his snowboard tangled with Spain’s Lucas Eguibar Breton.
Part of the rear of Pares’ board seemed to come into contact with Eguibar Breton’s board. The collision ultimately caused the Spaniard to lose his balance and fall down.
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Nathan Pare of the United States reacts after being penalized and ranked last in a men’s snowboard cross quarterfinal heat during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park on February 12, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
Pare maintained his third place after the incident. He then rallied for first place on the course’s final jump. The pair’s celebratory state didn’t last long as the judges quickly launched a review of the quarterfinals.
The judges then ruled that Pare was disqualified from the competition, citing the collision. The decision sparked a sharp response from Pare.
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“This is insane,” television microphones appeared to have caught Pare saying, referring to the judges’ decision.
Nathan Pare of Team United States talks to an official after being ranked last after a review in the men’s Snowboard Cross quarterfinals on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Livigno Snow Park on February 12, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
The TV stations on duty for the live stream of the quarterfinals also weighed in.
“He’s tripping a little bit and he doesn’t see him out there,” a spokesman said. “… It didn’t look like it was on purpose.”
When it comes to interference, the snowboard cross rulebook describes three categories: intentional, involuntary, and accidental. In two of these cases, involuntary and accidental, a competitor will typically be penalized with a yellow card – effectively serving as a warning. But anything deemed to be deliberate contact is eligible for a red card and disqualification.
Nathan Pare of Team United States competes in one of the Men’s Snowboard Cross Seeding on day six of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics at Livigno Snow Park on February 12, 2026 in Livigno, Italy. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
As the judges ruled the collision with Pare to be deliberate, he could not advance to the semi-finals. Instead, Jonas Chollet and Loan Bozzolo, both from France, advanced to the next round.
