Alex Ferreira Completes Olympic Medal Set with Freeski Halfpipe Gold
American freeskier Alex Ferreira has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning the men's halfpipe final at the Milan Cortina Winter Games on Friday, securing the gold medal to complete his collection of Olympic honours. The 31-year-old from Colorado delivered a breathtaking third and final run, earning a score of 93.75 points to claim the top spot on the podium.
A Historic Victory for Team USA
Ferreira's triumph marks a significant moment for Team USA, providing their first gold medal in nearly two weeks of freeski or snowboard events at the Livigno snow park. This victory adds to his previous Olympic achievements, including a silver medal from Pyeongchang in 2018 and a bronze from Beijing in 2022, showcasing his consistent excellence on the global stage.
Upon completing his medal-clinching run, Ferreira celebrated with a flourish, twirling a pole above his head in jubilation. He then anxiously watched as his final rivals attempted their last runs, each falling short of his impressive score.
Podium Finishers and Notable Competitors
Estonia's 19-year-old Henry Sildaru captured the silver medal in his Olympic debut, finishing just 0.75 points behind Ferreira with his third run. Brendan Mackay of Canada secured the bronze, narrowly edging out American Nick Goepper on the last run of the 11-man final.
Nick Goepper, who was aiming for a career fourth Olympic medal, faced disappointment as Mackay's performance pushed him off the podium. The 31-year-old Goepper had transitioned to halfpipe for this Olympic cycle after earning two silvers and a bronze in slopestyle during the previous three Games. During his final run, Goepper gave the crowd a scare when he smashed into the deck, but he quickly recovered and appeared unhurt.
Challenges and Competition Details
The finalists competed in qualifying rounds earlier in the morning, which were rescheduled to Friday due to heavy snowfall in the Italian Alps. Notably, Lee Seunghun of South Korea did not participate in the final after crashing during a warmup run, while reigning world champion Finley Melville Ives of New Zealand missed the final after crashing in both of his qualifying attempts.
In freeski halfpipe, similar to snowboarding, competitors take turns navigating the curved surface and launching into a series of acrobatic leaps, which are scored based on difficulty and execution. Only their best of three runs counts towards the final result.
Venue and Event Specifications
The halfpipe at the Livigno ski resort, which hosts these Olympic events, measures 220 metres in length, 22 metres in width, and rises to a height of 7.2 metres. This venue also accommodates slopestyle and big air events for both freeski and snowboarding, while separate locations in Livigno host other disciplines such as moguls.
In related news, American Elizabeth Lemley won gold in the women's moguls freeski event at the Winter Games, highlighting Team USA's strong performance across different skiing disciplines.
