Two-time world champion Birk Ruud delivered a near-flawless opening run to clinch gold in the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. The victory marked Ruud’s second Olympic gold, following his triumph in the Big Air competition at Beijing 2022.

The 25-year-old Norwegian established early dominance with a score of 86.28 in his first run, which ultimately proved unbeatable. With low cloud affecting visibility and several competitors struggling on the technical rail sections, Ruud’s composed and clean performance kept him firmly in the lead throughout the final.

Beijing 2022 slopestyle champion Alex Hall secured silver with a score of 85.75 on his second run but was unable to improve on his final attempt. Bronze went to Luca Harrington, who impressed on his Olympic debut by jumping into the podium places with a strong final run, scoring 85.15.

Harrington is among 449 athletes from 90 National Olympic Committees who benefited from the Olympic Solidarity scholarship programme ahead of Milano Cortina 2026. The initiative supports athletes by covering essential costs such as training, equipment, and competition travel, ensuring equal opportunities for competitors from diverse backgrounds.