US ski jumper Ben Loomis avoids Olympic mishap after being struck by leaf blower on mountain

United States skis jumper Ben Loomis luckily avoided what could’ve been a catastrophe astatine the 2026 Milan Cortina Games connected Thursday aft being struck by a leafage blower connected his attempted jump. 

Loomis was a portion of the Nordic combined squad sprint connected Thursday, wherever helium was going down the way to effort his large leap erstwhile helium was struck by 1 of the leafage blowers connected the broadside of the track. 

Workers astatine the Olympics are stationed alongside the way to stroke disconnected excess snow, ensuring that the participants person a cleanable leap wherever they are besides not slowed down. The upwind conditions person besides required galore leafage blowers to marque definite the way is clear. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Benjamin Loomis of Team United States reacts during the Ski Jumping Competition Round of Nordic Combined Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km connected time eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games astatine Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium connected Feb. 17, 2026, successful Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Tom Weller/Getty Images)

However, 1 of the leafage blowers wasn’t paying attraction arsenic Loomis was coming down, and the 27-year-old American collided with it. 

"I’ve ne'er experienced thing similar this," Loomis said to NRK. "Fortunately, it happened astatine the top, truthful I conscionable tried to person myself to marque a bully jump."

TEAM USA STARS BRITTANY BOWE, HILARY KNIGHT ANNOUNCE ENGAGEMENT AT MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS

Loomis added, "If it had deed maine successful the face, it would person been a wholly antithetic story."

Loomis was capable to get a 116-meter leap connected that effort contempt the obstacle astatine the apical of the track. 

Benjamin Loomis of Team United States competes successful the Ski Jumping Competition Round of Individual Gundersen Large Hill/10km connected time eleven of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium connected Feb. 17, 2026, successful Val di Fiemme, Italy. (Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

Loomis reportedly received apologies from Olympic officials for the incident, but helium said helium didn’t privation to redo his jump. 

"It was bully that thing much happened, but it should not happen," contention manager Lasse Ottesen said, per the New York Post. "The idiosyncratic has apologized to the assemblage and [International Ski and Snowboard Federation] apologizes to the USA."

In the end, Loomis and teammate Niklas Malacinski finished successful seventh place, incapable to medal successful the squad event. 

Meanwhile, Norway won golden successful the event, portion Finland and Austria took metallic and bronze, respectively. 

Benjamin Loomis of Team United States jumps successful the Ski Jumping Competition Round of Nordic Combined Team Sprint connected time thirteen of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic games astatine Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium connected Feb. 19, 2026, successful Val di Fiemme, Italy.  (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The U.S. has accumulated 26 full medals successful Milan, including the astir caller golden medal for the women’s crystal hockey squad successful a thrilling overtime triumph implicit Canada, 2-1. The U.S. has 8 golden medals now, with the closing ceremonial acceptable for Sunday. 

The 26-medal full is tied for 2nd among countries participating, arsenic Italy besides has the aforesaid magnitude arsenic the U.S. Norway leads the mode with 34 medals.

 Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.