Alex Ferreira of the United States secured the gold medal in the men's freestyle skiing halfpipe final, completing his Olympic medal collection. The 31-year-old athlete, considered a favorite heading into his third Winter Games, previously earned bronze at Beijing 2022 and silver at Pyeongchang 2018. Ferreira's near-perfect final run in Livigno, Italy, scored 93.75 points, clinching the top podium spot.
Ferreira, whose father was a professional soccer player, cites Lionel Messi as his ultimate sporting hero. He expressed that this victory was the "best moment of my life." His win elevated the U.S. to second place in the overall medal standings.
The competition was intense, with Estonia's 19-year-old Henry Sildaru earning a surprise silver medal with 93 points. Canada's Brendan Mackay, the reigning world champion, took bronze with 91 points on his final run, pushing American Nick Goepper to fourth place.
In halfpipe skiing, athletes perform aerial acrobatics on a U-shaped snow ramp, with scores based on trick difficulty, height, and execution.