Two-time Olympic medalist Ferreira, who previously won silver and bronze, was looking to add a gold medal to his collection Friday.
MILAN, Italy — Four Americans competed in the men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe event on Friday after weather delayed the competition.
Team USA athletes Nick Goepper, Alex Ferreira, Hunter Hess and Birk Irving competed in the qualifying round early Friday morning, and Goepper, Ferreira and Irving advanced to the finals about nine hours later.
Ferreira won gold, Estonia’s Henry Sildaru won silver and Canada’s Brendan Mackay took home the bronze medal.
Two-time Olympic medalist Ferreira, who previously won silver and bronze in the event, finally added a gold medal to his collection.
After a crash-filled first run in the final, much of the field rebounded in Run 2 to put down stronger performances. Ferreira upgraded his third and final run, converting a third-hit 720 into a 1080. The improvement pushed him into the lead ahead of Sildaru.
On his final run, Ferreira delivered when it mattered most, scoring a 93.75 to narrowly edge Sildaru’s 93.00. Mackay, the final skier to drop in, earned a 91.00 to claim bronze.
Goepper briefly sat in podium position but fell on the final jump of his third run and received a DNI — Did Not Improve — after failing to better his previous score.
Irving finished fourth, scoring 88.0, while Hess, who recovered from losing his balance mid-routine in the final, finished ninth with 58.75.
What is men’s freestyle skiing halfpipe?
Very similar to the snowboarding halfpipe event, the freestyle skiing halfpipe involves skiers doing tricks on a U-shaped course made of snow.
The athlete skis from one side of the curved ramp to the other, doing tricks while in the air.
Skiing halfpipe made its Olympic debut in 2014, nearly 20 years after snowboarding halfpipe was first included as an event.