McGrath is bouncing back from Injury, eyes overall Globe

Alte Lie McGrath; GEPA photos

Norwegian racer McGrath: “My goal, in the long run, is to win the overall globe.”

Atle Lie McGrath informs that he is “happy with my progress,” as he continues rehabilitation of a left anterior cruciate ligament injury, sustained in a crash at World Championships in February.

The 23-year-old Norwegian racer recently highlighted his progress with an Instagram video showing him hopping around and adeptly navigating a challenging  obstacle course. He tagged the video with the hashtag #slowandsteady. 

McGrath’s golf swing looks pretty sweet also – subtle, but further evidence that he is making strides with his physical recovery.

The talented ski racer’s spirits appear high as he also noted that he is “loving summer with the boys,” referring to his close-knit Norwegian teammates. The ski racers bonded and shared a few laughs at their annual dryland training camp in Riva del Garda, Italy, where activities included mountain biking, swimming, basketball, tennis, trail running, and even tossing an American football.

“I’m sure I can kick some ass if I really focus on my come back,”  McGrath confidently told Ski Racing Media in Riva del Garda, when questioned about his outlook for next season.

“My goal in the long run is to win the overall globe,” he states firmly. “That’s my biggest goal and I’m happy I have several events to choose from.”

The season-ending incident on L’Eclipse

Competing at his first World Championships in Courchevel, McGrath’s season ended abruptly from a fall in the super-G on February 9th.  

Following an auspicious start to his run, McGrath’s skis awkwardly split apart. He flipped onto his back, tumbled, and slid into the safety netting. The Norwegian popped up quickly and skied gingerly to the finish area. Despite seeming relatively unharmed, the incident resulted in substantial injuries to his left ACL. 

McGrath underwent surgery on February 17, determined necessary by an MRI shortly after his return to Norway. The initial assessment by a team doctor was that he’d need nine to 12 months of rehabilitation.

Compounding the challenge, he previously injured the internal ligament in the same knee in January 2021, resulting from a fall in a World Cup GS in Adelboden, Switzerland.

Success before the setback and trusty teammates

The 2019 World Junior Championships combined silver medalist recorded seven top-ten season results in 15 World Cup races before the February 9th accident. Despite missing the season’s final five weeks, McGrath still finished 11th in slalom and 20th overall in the World Cup standings. He also finished a solid 5th place in the opening Alpine Combined event at the World Championships. It came just a few days before the season-ending crash.

McGrath still joined three teammates on the powerful Norwegian men’s squad in cracking the Top 20 last season. His 20th-place finish complimented teammates Aleksander Aamodt Kilde (2nd), Henrik Kristoffersen (3rd), and Lucas Braathen (4th). Norway finished second overall in the Men’s Nations Cup standings, only trailing Switzerland.

McGrath spoke about the Norwegian team dynamic and how the Scandinavian country thrives despite limited resources as an alpine skiing powerhouse.

“It’s a collective effort with the team. We have a good mindset and we spend a lot of time together, which can be both super frustrating and also a lot of fun, but mostly fun,” McGrath said. “Our philosophy is that alpine skiing is a team sport, except for the two minutes you compete.

“We are a small nation, a small team, and we don’t have the budget and staff like the Austrian Federation – we are a bit like David versus Goliath,” he adds. “It’s a bit like less is more – we use the resources that we have.”

Atle’s friendly foe

McGrath has been pushed to his limits while racing alongside his longtime friend and teammate Lucas Braathen. The Norwegian duo shared an emotional 1-2 slalom podium finish in Adelboden, on January 8th, with Braathen taking top honors. 

“It’s always been a special fight between Lucas and I,” McGrath says. “Skiing together since we were 12 has been a special dynamic. We have a good way of dividing being competitors and friends. We have been doing this together ever since we were young.”

During the 2021-22 season, McGrath charged to his first two World Cup victories, claiming consecutive slaloms in Flachau and Courchevel in March. He also placed second in the famed Schladming night slalom and finished a career-best third in the discipline standings. He currently owns six career World Cup podiums.

“It’s been a good couple of seasons achieving my first wins, for sure,” he says. “Just fighting for wins alongside my great teammates has been pretty cool. It has been fun.”

Rising to the next level

The rising talent and son of former U.S. ski racer Felix McGrath, Atle has twice topped his father’s best World Cup result of second. Felix finished runner-up to Italian Alberto Tomba in a slalom, in Åre, Sweden, in March 1988.

McGrath relocated with his parents from Vermont to Norway when he was 3.  With the option as a dual citizen to compete for either the United States or Norway, he chose Norway. 

Despite recent podium results and burgeoning success, McGrath knows where to improve his game.

“I know that I can ski fast, and I’ve proved that last season winning two World Cups in a row,” McGrath said. “I don’t think it’s about the top speed for me. It’s more about the consistency.”

Follow Brian on Instagram – @brian.pinelli