U.S. Olympian Narrowly Avoids Disaster After Colliding with Leaf Blower During Ski Jump
American nordic combined athlete Benjamin Loomis experienced an unprecedented and potentially dangerous incident during the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy when he collided with a leaf blower during his ski jump attempt. The bizarre occurrence happened during the team nordic combined event in Milano-Cortina, creating a moment of high tension that could have ended in serious injury.
The Incident Unfolds During Critical Competition
Loomis was competing in the ski jump portion of the team nordic combined event on Thursday when an unexpected obstacle appeared in his path. As he began his descent down the launch ramp, an unaware staff member failed to move a leaf blower out of the skier's trajectory. Workers had been using the equipment to keep tracks clear on the ski-jumping ramp as a blizzard created extremely snowy conditions at the Cortina d'Ampezzo venue.
Video footage from the broadcast coverage shows Loomis passing by one worker who successfully raises his leaf blower out of the way, but the American skier then slams directly through a second leaf blower that remained in his path. The collision occurred just moments before what should have been a smooth takeoff for his jump.
Remarkable Recovery and Competition Results
Despite the shocking interruption, Loomis appeared unfazed by the incident and managed to complete his jump as planned. He reached an impressive speed of 96.3 km/h and recorded a distance of 116 meters. Following the jump, Loomis and teammate Niclas Malacinski posted a combined time and score over the two portions of the event that secured them seventh place overall.
The Norwegian team of Andreas Skoglund and Jens Luraas Oftebro won the event, narrowly edging out the team from neighboring Finland. Austria finished in third place to claim the bronze medal.
Official Response and Athlete Reaction
Event officials immediately apologized to Loomis and offered him the opportunity to retake his jump, but the American athlete declined. Competition director Lasse Ottesen expressed regret about the potentially disastrous situation, 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."
Loomis shared his perspective on the unusual incident with Norwegian broadcaster NRK, saying, "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."
The American athlete added that he had seen the leaf blower in his path but assumed the staff member would move it in time. "When I let go of the boom, I wondered if he would move. It didn't hurt, but it left a mark on the suit. Luckily it only hit my shoulder. If it had hit me in the face, it would have been a completely different story," Loomis explained.
Safety Concerns and Event Management
The incident has raised questions about safety protocols and event management during Olympic competitions, particularly when weather conditions require additional maintenance equipment on the course. While leaf blowers were necessary to combat the heavy snowfall affecting the venue, their placement and operator awareness became critical factors in athlete safety.
Olympic organizers will likely review procedures to prevent similar incidents in future competitions, especially given the high speeds and precision required in ski jumping events where distractions or obstacles could have catastrophic consequences.
