Winter Olympics 2026: Spectacular Alex Ferreira takes men’s halfpipe gold at the death as Gus Kenworthy misses out on medals for Team GB
Updated 21/02/2026 at 00:34 GMT
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Alex Ferreira snatched gold from Estonia’s Henry Sildaru on the final run of the men’s freeski halfpipe final at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics 2026. It completes the American’s medal collection after he had won gold and silver at previous Games while Team GB’s Gus Kenworthy could not quite put together the perfect run and finished sixth and Nick Goepper survived a horror crash.
Goepper somehow okay after suffering HUGE halfpipe crash
Video credit: TNT Sports
Alex Ferreira delivered when it mattered most to clinch gold on the final run of the men’s freeski halfpipe final as Team GB’s Gus Kenworthy finished sixth at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics.
Estonia’s Henry Sildaru was the shock leader after the first two runs on 92.75, but Ferreira produced a supreme final run to score 93.75 for the USA and though Sildaru slightly improved, it wasn’t enough to reclaim gold.
Following a mistake on Kenworthy’s first run, he put in a more conservative performance on his second attempt to score 84.75, before going all out again on his third and final run. However Kenworthy, who took a three-year hiatus after the 2022 Games, lost control and fell meaning he could not improve and add to his silver medal from Sochi 2014.
"It is hard to know how to feel, sixth feels so close, so I am pretty bummed," Kenworthy said, via the Team GB website.
"The first run was a little bit off and on the second run, I saw people were not landing and every now and then you have a competition like that.
"I went a bit conservative to get a safe run down but then gave myself only one shot to go for it. In hindsight I should have probably given myself two tries for a full pull.
"I feel like there is not a difference of being sixth or 12th. Anyway, I am still happy to land a run."
"Being back in the Olympics is special, so I will see you in four years."
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Ferreira writes name into 'history books' with elusive halfpipe gold
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ireland’s Benjamin Lynch also put in a strong performance, finishing eighth thanks to a sterling final run.
The most shocking moment of the night came courtesy of Nick Goepper, who needed a response after slipping from third to fourth when Canada’s Brendan Mackay finally delivered to jump into the medals with a score of 91.0.
Goepper’s final attempt to climb back on the podium ended with a sickening crunch when he missed the downward slope of the halfpipe on his final landing, instead slamming into the flat surface at the top.
It had initially looked like Goepper might be heading for the camera operator, but despite the bruising finish he was able to climb back up to his knees before medics arrived.
There was a huge surprise before the first runs even began in the final as New Zealand's Finley Melville Ives crashed out in his second qualifying run after a disappointing first attempt, meaning the defending world champion would not get a shot at Olympic gold.
Melville Ives was seen as one of the favourites to claim gold in Italy but after falling on his first qualification run, the 19-year-old hit the ground hard when landing a jump, ending his hopes of a medal.
He received warm applause from the crowd watching on as he went off, and TV cameras showed some of his competitors in tears while he was receiving treatment.
He received warm applause from the crowd watching on as he went off, and TV cameras showed some of his competitors in tears while he was receiving treatment.
One of his New Zealand team-mates, Ben Harrington, paid tribute to Melville Ives after completing his second qualification run, pointing to the camera and saying: "Finley, that was for you brother."
Qualifying also saw a lighter moment when China's Sheng Haipeng lost his phone in midair during a jump.
"Oh dear, hope it is OK," TNT Sports commentator James Webb said. "It is a white phone, it is just going to disappear into the snow. Fingers crossed the slippers will be able to fish that one up."
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Watch: Bizarre scenes as mystery item flies out of skier's pocket during halfpipe
Video credit: TNT Sports
Watch every event of Milano Cortina 2026 live on discovery+. Available across all subscription plans, starting at £3.99.
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