NEWNow you can listen to Pak Gazette articles!
American ski jumper Ben Loomis fortunately avoided what could have been a disaster at the Milan Cortina 2026 Games on Thursday after being hit by a leaf blower in his jump attempt.
Loomis was part of the Nordic combined team’s sprint on Thursday, where he was going down the track to attempt his big jump when he was hit by one of the leaf blowers on the side of the track.
Olympic workers are stationed along the track to remove excess snow, ensuring that participants have a clean jump without being slowed down. The weather conditions have also required numerous leaf blowers to ensure the runway is clear.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PakGazette.Com
Team USA’s Benjamin Loomis reacts during the Nordic Combined Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km ski jumping competition round on day eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium on February 17, 2026, in Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Tom Weller/Getty Images)
However, one of the leaf blowers did not pay attention as Loomis was descending and the 27-year-old American collided with him.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” Loomis told NRK. “Luckily it happened at the top, so I tried to convince myself to take a good jump.”
TEAM USA STARS BRITTANY BOWE AND HILARY KNIGHT ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT AT MILAN CORTINA OLYMPIC GAMES
Loomis added: “If it had hit me in the face, it would have been a completely different story.”
Loomis was able to make a jump of 116 meters on that attempt despite the obstacle at the top of the track.
Team USA’s Benjamin Loomis competes in the Gundersen Large Hill/10 km Individual Ski Jumping competition round on day eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium on February 17, 2026, in Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)
Loomis reportedly received apologies from Olympic officials for the incident, but said he did not want to redo his jump.
“It was good that nothing else happened, but it shouldn’t happen,” said contest director Lasse Ottesen, according to the New York Post. “The person apologized to the jury and [International Ski and Snowboard Federation] apologizes to the US.”
In the end, Loomis and his partner Niklas Malacinski finished in seventh place, failing to medal in the team event.
Meanwhile, Norway won gold in the event, while Finland and Austria took silver and bronze, respectively.
Team USA’s Benjamin Loomis jumps in the ski jumping competition round of the Nordic combined team sprint on day thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at the Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium on February 19, 2026, in Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
The United States has racked up 26 total medals in Milan, including the most recent gold medal for the women’s ice hockey team in a thrilling overtime victory over Canada, 2-1. The United States now has eight gold medals and the closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday.
The total of 26 medals is tied for second among participating countries, as Italy also has the same amount as the United States and Norway leads the way with 34 medals.
