Thomas Nadalini Reflects on Short Track Fall: ‘Should’ve Believed in My Overtake’

Thomas Nadalini faced a disappointing moment during his 1,000-meter short track race at the Winter Olympic Games 2026 in Milan Cortina. In the final stages of his quarter-final, Nadalini fell, eliminating his chances to advance to the semi-finals.

Race Details

The quarter-final was won by Canadian athlete Felix Roussel, who finished with a time of 1:24.227. Chinese skater Shaoang Liu secured second place at 1:24.292, while Dutch competitor Teun Boer came in third at 1:28.638. In contrast, Nadalini crossed the finish line in 1:34.487. South Korean skater Daeheon Hwang was disqualified from the race.

Nadalini Reflects on His Performance

After the race, Nadalini spoke candidly about his experience to Raisport. He acknowledged that missing qualification is a part of the sport. “Not everything can go as planned,” he shared. His pre-race strategy involved remaining cautious in the early laps to conserve energy for a potential late attack.

However, he expressed regret about his performance, stating, “Perhaps I didn’t believe in my overtake enough, or maybe my competitors were simply smarter.” He recognized that overtaking on the outside was essential but admitted that those ahead of him effectively blocked his path. This ultimately led to his fall.

Looking Ahead

Despite the setback, Thomas Nadalini remains optimistic about future events. “I must now focus on Saturday’s 1,500 meters,” he remarked. He emphasized the importance of his previous success, stating, “Having already secured a gold medal is significant, but I don’t want to stop here.”

“Today didn’t go as I hoped, but that’s part of the game. I need to reset my mindset for Saturday. I want to make it clear: the Olympics are not over for me,” he asserted confidently.