Ferreira Wins Gold Medal in Men's Ski Halfpipe at Olympics

Alex Ferreira delivered an incredible third run in the men’s ski halfpipe on Friday night, vaulting to the top of the scoreboard and securing another gold medal for Team USA. The victory served as redemption for Ferreira, who made it clear he was determined to claim gold after earning silver at the 2018 Olympics and bronze at the 2022 Olympics in the halfpipe event.

"An unbelievable amount of hard work, dedication, perseverance and belief went into me doing this," said Ferreira. "It really takes a village, literally so many poeple helped me get to where I am today and I'm unbelievably grateful." 

The competition unfolded on a perfect night, with clear skies and a crowd eager to cheer on the field of elite athletes. After qualifications were postponed on Thursday due to the weather, competitors were forced to pivot and complete both the qualifying and final rounds in the same day, testing their stamina and strength as they attempted to put down multiple precise runs on a pipe whose surface and edges can be unforgiving. 

Despite the demanding schedule, all four U.S. men in the field successfully advanced to the finals, marking a strong showing for Team USA.

Behind Ferreira's gold medal-winning high score of 93.75 sat Estonia's Henry Sildaru with a score of 93.00 taking silver. Winning the bronze medal was Canadian Brendan Mackay with a score of 91.00. 

"It's the most beautiful moment I've ever experienced in my life. I'm so insanely grateful," said Ferreira. "It just goes to show, never give up. Always believe in yourself." 

Team USA’s Nick Goepper narrowly missed the podium, finishing in fourth place after an intense crash on his final run, where he landed on the lip of the halfpipe during his final trick. Despite being bumped from medal contention, Goepper walked away flashing two thumbs up and a big smile. 

Colorado native Birk Irving finished just behind his teammate in fifth place, delivering strong performances in his final two runs after a tough start in his first run of the finals. He will now turn his attention to cheering on his younger sister, Svea Irving, in the women’s ski halfpipe finals on Saturday night. 

Hunter Hess rounded out the four qualified U.S. men in Friday’s finals, struggling with his landings as he worked to put down a podium-worthy run. Although he delivered his cleanest run on his third attempt, Hess finished 10th in his Olympic debut. 

RESULTS 
Men's Olympic ski halfpipe