Milano Cortina, Italy – A promising run at Olympic gold ended in heartbreak for Modern Zealand freeskier Fin Melville Ives on Thursday, as a fall during the men’s freeski halfpipe final resulted in a broken collarbone. The 19-year-old, considered a gold medal favorite and the reigning world champion, was knocked unconscious on the third trick of his second run, requiring immediate medical attention and transport off the mountain.
The incident cast a shadow over the event, which saw American Alex Ferreira claim the gold medal with a score of 93.75. Estonia’s Henry Sildaru (93.00) and Canada’s Brendan Mackay (91.00) rounded out the podium. Although Ferreira’s victory was celebrated, attention quickly turned to the condition of Melville Ives, a key figure in the sport.
Karen Melville Ives, Fin’s mother, provided an update on her son’s condition, stating he sustained a broken collarbone and was understandably “a bit heartbroken” following the crash. She confirmed to 1News that his head checks came back clear, offering some relief amidst the disappointment. Coach Tom Willmott described the fall as a “huge hit,” but reassured that Melville Ives was conscious and communicating with medical staff and family.
“Our team doctor’s with him, his mum’s with him, and he’s doing okay. He’s, he was knocked out, but he’s conscious right now, he’s talking, and he’s doing okay,” Willmott said. “He’s getting full checks, scans, X-rays, all the rest of it, just to fully rule anything out. But yeah, I can let you recognize he’s doing okay.”
Support from Teammates
The impact of Melville Ives’ injury resonated throughout the New Zealand team. Fellow Kiwi Ben Harrington dedicated his second qualifying run to his teammate, ultimately finishing in ninth place. Harrington, who underwent knee surgery just over a year ago, described making the finals as “an insane feeling.”
“My biggest goal was just to come out and land some runs. I had knee surgery just over a year ago, so it was a mission to get back here but we did it,” Harrington said.
New Zealand’s Olympic Medal Count
Despite Melville Ives’ setback, New Zealand has already secured three medals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Zoi Sadowski-Synnott made history on Thursday, becoming the most decorated Olympic snowboarder with a silver medal in the women’s snowboard slopestyle event. Luca Harrington previously claimed bronze in the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle competition, following Sadowski-Synnott’s silver in the big air event.
Looking Ahead
The focus now shifts to Melville Ives’ recovery and rehabilitation. While his Olympic campaign has been cut short, the support of his team and family will be crucial as he begins the process of healing. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the risks inherent in the sport, even for those at the very top of their game.
New Zealand will continue to compete in the remaining events at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, hoping to add to their medal tally. The team’s resilience and camaraderie will undoubtedly be tested in the wake of this unfortunate injury, but their commitment to excellence remains unwavering.
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