2026 Winter Olympics — Mens Freestyle Skiing

🎿 2026 Winter Olympics — Mens Freestyle Skiing: Big Air Results and Highlights

The Men’s Freeski Big Air event at the 2026 Winter Olympics took place at Livigno Snow Park in Valtellina, Italy, with qualification rounds on February 15 and the final on February 17, showcasing some of the world’s most daring aerial skiing ever seen at an Olympic Games.

🥇 Medal Winners

Gold – Birk Ruud (Norway)
Norwegian star Birk Ruud captured the Olympic gold medal in Men’s Big Air with an outstanding performance in the final, adding to his previous Olympic success and reinforcing his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats.

Silver – Mac Forehand (United States)
American Mac Forehand earned silver with technically precise jumps and high scores throughout the final, capping off an impressive Olympics for the U.S. freestyle team.

Bronze – Matěj Švancer (Austria)
Austria’s Matěj Švancer took bronze, marking a historic milestone for Austria’s presence in Olympic Big Air and adding a major achievement to his rising career.

🏁 Road to the Final

In the qualification round, the top 12 competitors advanced to the final, with exciting performances from a mix of established stars and emerging talents:

• Mac Forehand topped qualification with a combined score of 183.00, setting the tone for his podium bid.

• Matěj Švancer and Birk Ruud also showed strong form, cruising into the final among the lead qualifiers.
  Other notable athletes who advanced included Luca Harrington (NZL), Timothé Sivignon (FRA), Ulrik Samnøy (NOR), Dylan Deschamps (CAN), and Troy Podmilsak (USA).

🎯 Final Showdown

The Big Air final was marked by high drama and ambitious tricks. Athletes launched off the massive Livigno ramp with progressive rotations and technical combinations, pushing the limits of amplitude and execution under Olympic pressure. Runs were scored on difficulty, execution, amplitude, and landing precision, with each competitor’s best two scores counting toward their final totals.

Ruud’s winning performance combined amplitude with near-flawless execution, while Forehand’s fluid style and technical precision secured the silver. Švancer’s consistency and superior grabs helped him edge out other contenders for the final podium spot.

🌍 Impact and Legacy

The 2026 Big Air final was one of the highlight events of the Milano Cortina Games, demonstrating the rapid progression of freestyle skiing and the global depth of talent in the discipline. Norway’s Ruud added another Olympic chapter to his storied career, the U.S. affirmed its strength in aerial events with Forehand’s silver, and Austria celebrated a breakthrough podium with Švancer.

With breathtaking tricks and competitive intensity, the event left fans anticipating what these athletes will bring to future world championships and the next Winter Olympics in 2030.