LIVIGNO, 14 February 2026 – The men’s snowboard halfpipe final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics concluded yesterday in spectacular fashion, delivering a podium that mixed veteran dominance with a historic breakthrough for South Korea. Japan’s Yuto Totsuka claimed the gold medal with a near-perfect run, while Australia’s Scotty James secured silver, preventing a Japanese clean sweep of the podium.
Totsuka Takes Gold as Japan Dominates
In a high-stakes final held at the Livigno Snow Park on 13 February, Yuto Totsuka emerged victorious with a massive score of 95.00. The Japanese rider’s technical precision and amplitude were unmatched, leading a strong Japanese contingent that saw four riders finish in the top seven. While Totsuka took the top spot, his teammate Ayumu Hirano, a pre-event favourite, finished seventh after a challenging final round.
Australia’s Scotty James, who entered the final as the top qualifier after a commanding 94.00 in the preliminary rounds, faced a dramatic first run where he suffered a fall. However, the veteran recovered to post a score strong enough for the silver medal. James remains the most decorated Australian snowboarder, though the elusive Olympic gold continues to evade him.
Choi Ga-on Makes History in Women’s Final
The women’s halfpipe final, held on 12 February, saw a changing of the guard. South Korean teenager Choi Ga-on captured gold, becoming the first South Korean to win an Olympic snowboard halfpipe title. Choi’s victory was particularly remarkable as she overcame a collision during the event to outscore two-time defending champion Chloe Kim.
Kim, who was aiming for a historic “three-peat,” took the silver medal. Despite leading after the qualification rounds with a score of 90.25, Kim was unable to hold off the 17-year-old Choi in the final. The event was also marked by a frightening crash involving China’s Liu Jiayu during qualifications, which caused a significant delay and highlighted the extreme risks of the 22-foot superpipe.
Milano Cortina 2026: Halfpipe Medal Results
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men’s Halfpipe | Yuto Totsuka (JPN) – 95.00 | Scotty James (AUS) | Japan (TBC) |
| Women’s Halfpipe | Choi Ga-on (KOR) | Chloe Kim (USA) | TBC |
Judging and Technical Standards
The halfpipe competition at Milano Cortina 2026 is held in a standard 22-foot-high semi-cylindrical pipe. Scoring is conducted by a panel of six judges who evaluate runs based on four primary criteria:
- Amplitude: The height achieved above the lip of the pipe.
- Difficulty: The technical complexity of rotations and grabs.
- Execution: The quality of the landing and the “cleanliness” of the tricks.
- Variety: The range of different tricks performed throughout the run.
In the Olympic format, the highest and lowest scores from the panel are discarded, and the remaining four are averaged to produce a final score out of 100. In the finals, riders are given three runs, with only their single best score determining their final ranking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the men’s snowboard halfpipe gold in 2026?
Yuto Totsuka of Japan won the gold medal on 13 February 2026, with a top score of 95.00.
Did Scotty James win a medal?
Yes, Australian Scotty James won the silver medal in the men’s halfpipe final, following his first-place finish in the qualification round.
What happened to Chloe Kim?
Chloe Kim won the silver medal in the women’s halfpipe. She was defeated by South Korea’s Choi Ga-on, ending Kim’s bid for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal.
How high are the walls of the Olympic halfpipe?
The Olympic standard wall height for the halfpipe is 22 feet, which allows athletes to gain the necessary momentum for high-altitude aerial manoeuvres.