Nathan Pare’s first-place finish in the men’s snowboard cross was short-lived.
The 21-year-old American was disqualified from Thursday’s quarterfinal at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after making contact with Spain’s Lucas Eguibar on a bend as he picked up speed to move from fourth to third.
Eguibar, 32, lost his balance after the collision and fell into the powder as Pare made a push on the final jump to edge out Frenchmen Jonas Chollet and Loan Bozzolo at the finish.
Nathan Pare (c.) finished first in his snowboard cross heat before being disqualified on Feb. 12, 2026. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
The judges reviewed the run once it concluded and ruled the collision was intentional, according to Sports Illustrated, which also reported that Pare told a judge, “That’s insane.”
“Intentional” is one of the three designations of interference in the sport, along with involuntary and incidental. It is defined as when “a rider purposefully creates contact with a competitor,” and can result in a red card (disqualification) if the movement impacts a competitor’s result, according to the rules.
Chollet and Bozzolo qualified for the semifinals but were bested in their heat by the former’s brother, Aidan Chollet. Aidan placed fourth in the big final and failed to medal.
Team USA’s Nathan Pare spoke to officials following his quarterfinal run on Feb. 12, 2026, in the Winter Olympics. AP2026 WINTER OLYMPICS
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Pare made his Olympic debut in Milan, fulfilling a lifelong dream.
“I’ve dreamed about this for as long as I can remember. As a kid, I’ve pictured this moment becoming reality but without knowing how to get there. With the huge amount of support from my parents, coaches and teammates over the years the dream is becoming a reality. After years of sacrifices, set backs, doubt and putting in the work when no one was watching, I am honored and proud to represent my country at the Olympics,” he posted on Instagram in January.
The Winter Games run through Feb. 22.
