Zoe Atkin qualifies top for freeski halfpipe final
zoe atkin qualified top for the freeski halfpipe final after putting down a 91. 50 on her first run, a score that will see her drop last in Saturday's best-of-three final scheduled for 18: 30 GMT — a strong start as she chases Olympic gold on top of her World Championship title.
Zoe Atkin puts down a commanding 91. 50
The 23-year-old produced her best mark on the opening run, earning a 91. 50 that left her ahead of the field after qualifying at Livigno Snow Park. Atkin impressed judges with the height of her tricks above the 6. 7m-high pipe and said managing nerves in qualifying helped her feel "super excited" for the final. Born and raised in the United States to a British father and a Malaysian mother, she has competed for Great Britain throughout her career and made her Olympic debut four years ago.
Rivals, crashes and a stretchered withdrawal
Eileen Gu, the defending champion and identified as a principal rival, qualified fifth with a score of 86. 50 after crashing on her first run and landing a stronger second attempt. Canada's Cassie Sharpe, the 2018 Olympic champion and 2022 silver medallist, sat third after her first run but suffered a heavy crash on her second and was taken away on a stretcher. With those results, Atkin's first-run score puts clear pressure on the field heading into Saturday's final.
Weather disruption shifts other events
Heavy snow throughout Thursday forced the postponement of the men's halfpipe qualifiers. Organizers rescheduled the men's event for Friday morning from 09: 30 GMT, with Gus Kenworthy and Liam Richards named to compete for Great Britain. The delay underlined how conditions at Livigno have influenced scheduling across the snow park.
With her top qualifying spot, zoe atkin will have the advantage of dropping last in the final, which runs as best-of-three. She told event staff that qualifying can be more nerve‑wracking than finals because athletes have only two runs to secure a place, and that the strong qualifying performance has given her confidence going into Saturday's medal contest.
The women's freeski halfpipe final is set for Saturday at 18: 30 GMT, where Atkin will attempt to convert her leading qualifying score into Olympic gold. Men's qualifiers resume Friday at 09: 30 GMT, completing the revised schedule through the weekend.
