Alex Ferreira Wins Gold as Teammate’s Olympic Medal Bid Ends in Terrifying Halfpipe Crash
alex ferreira took the top spot in the men’s freeski halfpipe while a dramatic final run left a teammate injured and out of the medals at the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. The event at Livigno Snow Park delivered both a career-defining victory and a frightening crash that reshaped the podium late in the competition.
Alex Ferreira: gold, score and career milestone
Alex Ferreira left Livigno Snow Park as the Olympic champion in the men’s freeski halfpipe. He posted a winning score of 93. 75 to claim gold and is now a three-time Olympic medalist. Ferreira’s performance stood up under pressure as other contenders launched ambitious final runs aimed at changing the standings on the final attempts.
Nick Goepper’s crash and the reshaped podium
Nick Goepper entered his last run sitting in a medal position and attempted a high-difficulty trick that had not previously been completed in competition. He successfully landed several jumps earlier in the run but on the fifth and final leap did not achieve the necessary height and struck the halfpipe ledge hard. Goepper lay on the snow for several minutes while medical staff attended to him; stretcher preparation appeared imminent before he rose to his feet. He gave a thumbs-up and a smile and walked off under his own power, though he later chose to skip post-race interviews to receive medical attention.
The crash cost Goepper a podium finish. A Canadian competitor produced a late, top-scoring run to move into bronze position with a score of 91, leaving Goepper fourth with 89 and narrowly outside the medals.
Immediate impacts and what this means for the team
The competition delivered mixed outcomes for the U. S. squad. While alex ferreira secured gold and bolstered his medal count, Goepper’s dramatic fall ended his pursuit of Olympic gold and marked a painful finish to a comeback story that saw him switch events and push technical boundaries. The juxtaposition of triumph and trauma within the same final highlights the razor-thin margins in elite freeski halfpipe competition.
Scores and final placements (men’s freeski halfpipe final)
- Gold: Alex Ferreira — 93. 75
- Bronze: Canadian skier — 91
- Fourth: Nick Goepper — 89
Details about Goepper’s condition and any follow-up assessments were not available immediately after the event. Recent updates indicate that he walked off the slope under his own power but later sought medical attention. The final standings are official for the event at Livigno Snow Park, and the results immediately alter medal counts and individual Olympic records.
Looking ahead
The men’s freeski halfpipe final will be reviewed by teams and medical staff as athletes recover and prepare for remaining events. Alex Ferreira’s gold performance will be a focal point for the team’s success, while Goepper’s recovery and any subsequent decisions about competition participation or medical treatment will be followed closely in the coming days. Recent updates may continue to evolve as medical evaluations proceed.
