Tormis Laine, the Estonian alpine skier, faced a challenging competition at the Milan-Cortina Olympics, where he struggled during the men's slalom event, ultimately deciding to withdraw after the first run. Just a few days prior, he had secured a 28th place finish in the giant slalom event, indicating the difficulties he encountered throughout the games. Laine reflected on the unfair conditions present in the competition, emphasizing that he did not achieve the results he aimed for.

In his analysis of the first run of the slalom, Laine cited a tough combination of factors that made it difficult for him to maintain his performance. He described how he attempted to execute his planned line choice, but failed to shift his body weight effectively over his outside skis, leading to trouble on an icy patch of the course. As he navigated the steep vertical combination, he noted that grip was necessary for executing turns, and ultimately, his weight distribution was not adequate, resulting in his inability to continue.

Despite being aware of the challenging conditions, Laine differentiated between the term "terrible" and the actual difficulties faced on the course, opting to characterize it as simply "hard." He acknowledged the heavy snowfall and degradation of the course, which added to the competitive strain. Nonetheless, he recognized that some races are inherently difficult, and accepted that visibility was poor, with some competitions just being harder to compete in than others. This performance led Laine to reflect on his aspirations and the values that drive him in sports, suggesting a disconnect between his competitive experiences and his motivations for participating in the sport.