Zoe Atkin qualifies top for freeski halfpipe final at Winter Olympics 2026

British freestyle skier zoe atkin produced a season-best qualifying performance, scoring 91. 50 on her first run to top the freeski halfpipe field and secure the advantage of dropping last in the final at 1: 30 PM ET on Saturday. The result strengthens the 23-year-old's position as she seeks to add an Olympic title to her World Championship crown.

Zoe Atkin's qualifying run

Atkin's first run was scored 91. 50, a mark that placed her ahead of the rest of the field and earned her the final-run advantage in the best-of-three finals format. Judges were impressed with the height of her tricks above the 6. 7m-high pipe, and Atkin said managing nerves was key: "I was pretty nervous coming into today. A big event and qualifying can be more nerve-wracking than finals as you only have two runs to put it down. I'm really happy that I was able to manage those feelings. "

The 23-year-old is a two-time X Games champion and the current world champion in the freestyle halfpipe, and she has competed for Great Britain throughout her career despite being born and raised in the United States to a British father and a Malaysian mother. She made her Olympic debut four years ago.

Family reaction and expectations

Atkin's family watched from the venue as she put in an assured opening performance, and her father said he hopes she will "focus less and worry less" about the pressure and expectations. He added that the family has always kept expectations modest: "Just ski well; do try and put down a run you can be proud of. " The family has close ties to the West Midlands, with Solihull described as a centre of family activity in the UK.

Field developments and what follows

The qualifying session also saw notable incidents that will shape the final. Canada's Cassie Sharpe, the 2018 Olympic champion and 2022 silver medallist, qualified third after her first run but was taken away on a stretcher after a heavy crash on her second. China's defending champion Eileen Gu crashed on her first run but still qualified fifth with a score of 86. 50. These outcomes leave Atkin as a leading contender going into the medal round.

Heavy snow disrupted the schedule earlier, forcing the men's halfpipe qualifiers to be postponed; those will now take place on Friday morning from 4: 30 AM ET, with Gus Kenworthy and Liam Richards listed as competitors for Great Britain. Atkin will drop last into the women's final at 1: 30 PM ET Saturday, which gives her the tactical advantage of seeing other finalists' lines before her closing attempts.

Short forward look

With a top qualifying score and the psychological edge of the final-run position, zoe atkin enters Saturday's final with momentum. If she can replicate the height and execution seen in qualifying across the best-of-three final runs, she will be in a strong position to contend for gold. Athlete fitness and recovery after recent crashes will be factors to watch before the medal round.