Zoe Atkin qualifies top for freeski halfpipe final, laying down a gauntlet to Eileen Gu at Winter Olympics 2026

zoe atkin produced the top qualifying score in the freeski halfpipe, posting a 91. 50 on her opening run to secure the last start position for Saturday’s final. The result leaves her well placed to contest the Olympic title and frames a direct challenge to the defending champion, who qualified lower after a first-run crash.

What happened and what’s new

The 23-year-old delivered a high-scoring first run that put her at the top of the qualifying leaderboard and guaranteed she will drop last in the best-of-three final. Her qualifying score was 91. 50; the defending champion qualified fifth with a score of 86. 50 after crashing on her first run and recovering on a second attempt.

Atkin entered the Games carrying recent major titles, including the world championship and multiple X Games wins. She has represented Great Britain throughout her career and made her Olympic debut at the previous Games. With family in attendance at the Livigno Snow Park, she impressed judges with significant airtime above the pipe, measured at 6. 7 metres high in the venue profile.

The qualifying session also saw a heavy crash for a previous Olympic champion who had posted a strong first run, then been taken away on a stretcher after a second-run accident. Weather disrupted the schedule elsewhere at the venue: heavy snow pushed the men's halfpipe qualifiers and they were rescheduled for the following morning, with the postponed session listed to start at 9: 30 a. m. GMT (4: 30 a. m. ET) and involving established competitors from Great Britain.

Behind the headline: Zoe Atkin

Zoe Atkin arrives at this final as a decorated athlete with recent major titles that position her among the event favourites. Qualifying first with a clean opening run gives her the tactical advantage of seeing other competitors' lines before taking her final attempts. She said she felt nervous coming into qualifying but that putting a solid run down early helped manage those feelings and boosted her confidence heading into the final, where she will have the benefit of dropping last.

Her profile — Olympic debut four years ago, current world champion, and multiple X Games wins — frames this moment as an opportunity to add an Olympic title to a growing résumé. The presence of teammates and family in the snow park and the visibility of the event for Great Britain also amplify expectations placed on her performance.

What we still don’t know

• Final standings: who will win medals in the Saturday final is unresolved until the competition concludes.
• Health status of the athlete taken from the pipe on a stretcher following a heavy crash; official condition and medical updates are not yet confirmed.
• Whether weather or course conditions will change between qualifying and the final and how that might affect competitors.
• How the defending champion’s earlier crash will impact performance in the final after her recovery run in qualifying.
• Run order adjustments beyond the advantage of the top qualifier dropping last, including any late withdrawals or schedule shifts.

What happens next

• Atkin converts qualifying form into gold: Trigger — a clean, high-scoring series of runs in the final that surpass competitors’ marks.
• Defending champion recovers to challenge for the podium: Trigger — a strong set of final runs that improve on the qualifying score despite the earlier crash.
• An upset from another competitor: Trigger — a rival posts a surprise high score in the final, reshuffling medal prospects.
• Weather or injury alters the outcome: Trigger — worsening snow or a crash in the final leads to a changed podium or medical intervention.
• Atkin falls short despite top qualifying position: Trigger — errors or conservative strategy in the final result in lower final scores.

Why it matters

The final offers a chance for Great Britain to secure a high-profile result in a discipline where Atkin is already a recent world champion and multiple-times X Games winner. A medal would add to Britain’s standing in the snow park events at these Games, where other podium hopes have faced mixed outcomes. For the sport, the matchup between the top qualifier and the defending champion creates a marquee contest that will shape narratives around rivalry, athlete progression and the depth of the women's halfpipe field.

Near term, attention will focus on medical updates for the athlete injured in qualifying, course and weather forecasts ahead of the final, and how athletes adjust strategy when the top qualifier has the advantage of dropping last. The final itself is scheduled for Saturday at 1: 30 p. m. ET, with Atkin set to take the last run of the session as the top qualifier.

zoe atkin’s qualifying performance put her in a commanding position, but the final will determine whether that early dominance translates into Olympic gold.