Loic Meillard of Switzerland wins slalom to close out men's Alpine program at Milan Cortina Games

BORMIO, Italy (AP) — Loic Meillard of Switzerland used a strong second run to win the men's slalom Monday on a day that saw Brazilian ski racer Lucas Pinheiro Braathen fall in the first run, ending his bid for another Olympic gold.

The event closes out the men's Alpine program at the Milan Cortina Games.

Meillard adds gold to a silver he won in the team combined and bronze from the giant slalom.

Meillard finished in a two-run combined time of 1 minute, 53.61 seconds. He edged Fabio Gstrein of Austria by 0.35 seconds, while Henrik Kristoffersen of Norway took bronze. It was quite a contrast of runs, too, with snow and fog in the morning and the sun peeking out for the afternoon.

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath, the first-run leader, straddled a gate and was out. He was so irate that he threw his ski poles over the netting on one side. He then went outside the netting on the other side, trudging along the snow. He sat down and then fell back, breathing heavily.

McGrath has been racing with a heavy heart, with his grandfather dying the day of the opening ceremony. McGrath wore an armband as a tribute.

Pinheiro Braathen made history by winning the giant slalom Saturday, becoming the first athlete from South America to win a medal at a Winter Olympics. But his ski slipped out on a fast first run and his bid for another medal was over. Pinheiro Braathen represented Norway before switching to Brazil, his mom’s home country.

Switzerland led the men's Alpine skiing medal table in Bormio with eight (four gold, two silver and two bronze). Austria (two silvers) and Italy (silver, bronze) each had two, while Brazil (gold), U.S. (silver) and Norway (bronze) brought home one apiece.

The heavy snow led to a tricky morning of racing. The competition featured 96 racers in the field, with many representing nontraditional ski nations. Of the 96 racers, there were 49 who didn’t finish the course, two who were disqualified and another who didn’t start.

It was a ceremonial slalom run for AJ Ginnis of Greece. He said an ankle surgery didn’t heal properly and he couldn’t compete the way he wanted to. This was his farewell run.

“To be able to stand here today and just everything ski racing has given me in life, a college degree, security, and most importantly friends and people that will stay with me forever, it’s just something that you could have told that to a 10-year-old AJ and his parents and they would have never believed it,” Ginnis said.

Among the skiers in the field were Henri Rivers IV of Jamaica; Faiz Basha of Singapore and Lasse Gaxiola of Mexico. Gaxiola’s mom, Sarah Schleper, competed in the super-G and giant slalom in Cortina.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Switzerland's Loic Meillard celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen, left, hugs Switzerland's Loic Meillard at the finish area, during an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Switzerland's Loic Meillard celebrates winning an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course, during an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath speeds down the course, during an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen reacts after crashing during an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen reacts at the finish area of an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Norway's Atle Lie McGrath competes an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Brazil's Lucas Pinheiro Braathen reacts after crashing during an alpine ski, men's slalom race, at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Bormio, Italy, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

KOLKATA, India (AP) — England survived a scare before sealing a 24-run win over Italy on Monday to qualify for the Super Eights stage of cricket’s Twenty20 World Cup.

Ben Manenti smashed 60 off only 25 balls, with six sixes, as Italy threatened to chase down a target of 202-7 set by England in their Group C clash.

Grant Stewart also hit 45 in 23 deliveries but Sam Curran (3-22) and Jamie Overton (3-18) held their nerve in the last two overs as Italy was bowled out for 178.

Earlier, Will Jacks thumped 53 not out off 22 balls as England notched up its highest total of the tournament in a must-win game.

The two-time champion is now through to the Super Eights, along with group rival West Indies, co-host India and South Africa.

In Delhi, Afghanistan shrugged off back-to-back defeats in its first two games to finally register a first win at the tournament, beating the United Arab Emirates by five wickets.

Azmatullah Omarzai hit 40 not out off 21 balls and opener Ibrahim Zadran scored 53 off 41 deliveries as Afghanistan, coming off the narrowest of narrow losses to 2024 runnerup South Africa in a Group D contest decided after a second Super Over, finished on 162-5 in 19.2 overs.

It was a good all-round showing from Omarzai, who also picked up 4-15 in four overs to help restrict UAE to 160-9 after his team had won the toss.

In the evening game at Pallekele, unbeaten co-host Sri Lanka opted to bowl after winning the toss against struggling Australia in Group B.

Fit-again Mitchell Marsh is back to lead Australia, who must win to stay alive in the tournament.

England’s top-order struggled to get going at the start against Italy, the team reaching 92-4 just past the halfway mark.

But Jacks came to the rescue, hitting four sixes and putting on 54 off 25 balls with Curran (25) for the sixth wicket. Jacks then added another 35 off 16 deliveries with Overton (15) to take England beyond 200.

Jofra Archer struck twice in the first over to leave Italy on 1-2. It later became 22-3, with Overton dismissing skipper Harry Manenti for 12.

Ben Manenti and opener Justin Mosca then added 92 in 48 balls, with the former’s swashbuckling half-century giving Italy hope of pulling off a shock win.

Stewart also cracked 21 runs off leg-spinner Adil Rashid in the 18th over but Curran and Overton led England home.

Afghanistan only has a slim chance of qualifying for the Super Eights despite beating the UAE.

New Zealand has four points from two wins and could knock out Afghanistan if it beats Canada in Chennai on Tuesday. The Afghans play Canada in their final game in Chennai on Thursday.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Italy's Crishan Kalugamage, second from left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of England's Sam Curran during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Italy in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Italy's Crishan Kalugamage, second from left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of England's Sam Curran during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Italy in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Sam Curran celebrates the wicket of Italy's Grant Stewart during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Italy in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Sam Curran, second from left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Italy's Grant Stewart during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Italy in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

England's Sam Curran hits a six during the T20 World Cup cricket match between England and Italy in Kolkata, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Bikas Das)

Afghanistan's captain Rashid Khan, centre, watches United Arab Emirates' Sohaib Khan after bowls a delivery during the T20 World Cup cricket match between Afghanistan and United Arab Emirates in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)