Alex Ferreira Claims First Olympic Gold in Men's Halfpipe

Ferreira edges Sildaru for gold

Alex Ferreira wins men's halfpipe gold at the Olympics, scoring 93.75 in a thrilling final. USA's Ferreira claims first Olympic gold, Sildaru takes silver for Estonia's first medal.

Ferreira's win wasn't without drama, as he edged out Estonia's Henry Sildaru, who too...

American skier Alex Ferreira finally secured his first Olympic gold medal in the men's halfpipe event, scoring 93.75 in his third and final run. This victory marks the culmination of years of dedication, perseverance, and a clear vision, as Ferreira had previously considered retirement and faced physical challenges.

THE COMPLETE SET. 🥇🥈🥉

Alex Ferreira wins gold in the men’s freeski halfpipe, adding to his Olympic silver and bronze for career medal No. 3.#WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/Q4Ma7PusJE

— Team USA (@TeamUSA) February 20, 2026

Ferreira's win wasn't without drama, as he edged out Estonia's Henry Sildaru, who took silver with a score of 93.00, marking his country's first medal at the Milan-Cortina Games. Canada's Brendan Mackay secured bronze with a score of 91.00. Fellow American Nick Goepper narrowly missed the podium, placing fourth after a brutal crash on his final run.

The competition got off to a bizarre start, with Canada's Andrew Longino being the only one to post a decent score of 76.50 in the first run. Things didn't get much smoother in the second run, but Ferreira's impressive 90.50 changed the game, setting a new benchmark.

Ferreira edged out Sildaru, who initially took the lead with 92.75, but ultimately settled for silver with a score of 93.00. Ferreira's winning score of 93.75 secured his first Olympic gold.

Meanwhile, the men's qualifiers saw a concerning moment when New Zealand's Finley Melville Ives suffered a hard fall. This incident follows Cassie Sharpe's crash in the women's halfpipe qualifying, raising concerns about safety in the discipline.

New Zealand's Olympic team reported that Finley Melville Ives is “stable and positive” after his crash in the men's halfpipe qualification. The 19-year-old world champion suffered a heavy fall, knocking him unconscious, but he's currently getting medical checks, including scans and X-rays.

A FINAL RUN FOR THE AGES. Alex Ferreira is GOLDEN in the men's halfpipe. 🥇 #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/DcjOTuUkhX

— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026

The halfpipe event is inherently high-risk, with athletes launching themselves off a 7.2-meter-high semi-cylindrical course to perform aerial tricks. It's a testament to their skill and bravery, but also highlights the importance of safety measures.