LIVIGNO, Italy – American freeskier Mac Forehand claimed the silver medal in the men’s big air final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina on Tuesday, February 17th. The 24-year-old from Vermont delivered a stunning performance, highlighted by a groundbreaking trick, but was narrowly edged out by Norway’s Tormod Frostad, who took home the gold.
The competition at Livigno Snow Park was described as exceptionally close, with athletes pushing the boundaries of freestyle skiing. Forehand’s final jump – a nose butter takeoff into three flips and six full rotations – was a feat never before accomplished in competition, yet it wasn’t enough to secure the top spot. The level of competition was so high that, according to Forehand, many of the tricks landed would have won on any other night.
Frostad Edges Out Forehand with Technical Precision
Tormod Frostad secured the gold medal with a total score of 195.50, just slightly ahead of Forehand’s 193.25. Frostad’s winning performance included a switch right double bio 1620 (scoring 97.00) and a right nose butter double bio 1620 (scoring 98.50) on his final run. While Forehand’s tricks featured more rotations, Frostad’s victory was attributed to his technicality, including nose-butter takeoffs, complex grabs, and unique sideways rotations that impressed the judges.
Forehand landed two impressive triple cork 2160s – a switch variation scoring 95.00 and a regular variation with a nose butter scoring 98.25 – briefly taking the lead before Frostad’s final jump.
Forehand Accepts the Result with Grace
Despite the incredibly close call, Forehand immediately dismissed any suggestion of controversy or questioning the judging. “I’ve seen it so many times before: I got robbed, someone I beat got robbed — rob this, rob that,” he said, according to Yahoo Sports. “But we know so much about our sport. We know what scores well, what should do well. The guys that are out here tonight know what the podium is going to be at all times. People on the outside perspective might not really understand that, but that’s just how it’s going to be.”
He added, “judged sports — like I’m sure in figure skating — it’s the same way.”
A High-Scoring Olympic Final
The 2026 Olympic big air final saw significantly higher scores than the 2022 Beijing Games. At Beijing 2022, the gold medalist scored 187.75, while the other two medalists scored 183 and 181. This year’s competition demonstrated a clear progression in the sport, with athletes consistently attempting and landing more complex tricks.
Austrian Matej Švancer rounded out the podium, taking the bronze medal with a score of 191.25. Defending champion Birk Ruud of Norway finished eighth.
Forehand’s silver medal represents a significant achievement for the American team, and his innovative trick – the nose butter takeoff into three flips and six rotations – is likely to inspire a new generation of freesk skiers. He described landing the 2160-degree triple cork with nose butter as a “pipe dream,” having previously practiced versions with fewer rotations.
Frostad, speaking after his win, emphasized the importance of style in the sport. “Style is everything, in my opinion,” he said, as reported by NBC Olympics. “That’s our only way to differentiate each other. … You can’t really teach someone about style. That’s a whole process of finding yourself and going into different realms of using your inspiration to craft your style.”
The freeski big air final was described as “sensational” and “video game-like” by NBC Olympics, highlighting the incredible athleticism and skill on display.
What comes next for Forehand and Frostad? Both athletes are expected to continue competing on the World Cup circuit, pushing the boundaries of the sport and inspiring fans worldwide. The Milan Cortina Games continue, with more opportunities for athletes to showcase their talents and pursue Olympic glory.
Share your thoughts on this thrilling competition in the comments below!
