Alex Ferreira wins Olympic gold in men's halfpipe freeskiing

The 31-year-old American freeskier finally captures the Olympic title after winning silver and bronze in previous Games

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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Alex Ferreira, a 31-year-old American freeskier from Aspen, Colorado, won the gold medal in the men's halfpipe competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy. Ferreira, who is known for his alter ego "Hotdog Hans" and entertaining YouTube videos, had previously won silver and bronze medals at the last two Olympic Games. In a tight battle with Estonia's Henry Sildaru and Canada's Brendan Mackay, Ferreira landed a third and final run worth 93.75 points to claim the Olympic title for the first time.

Why it matters

Ferreira's victory marks the first time an American has won gold in the men's halfpipe event at the Winter Olympics in two weeks of freeskiing competition. The win also caps off Ferreira's quest to "finish the rainbow" after previously winning silver and bronze medals, solidifying his status as one of the top freeskiers in the world.

The details

In the final, Ferreira went head-to-head with Estonia's Henry Sildaru and Canada's Brendan Mackay in a tight, brutal battle that lasted all night. Ferreira's winning run, which included a series of technical tricks and smooth landings, scored 93.75 points, just enough to edge out Mackay's 91-point final run. The victory sparked bedlam and tears of joy in the stands, with Ferreira's friends and family, as well as fellow American freeskiers like David Wise and Nick Goepper, on hand to congratulate him.

  • Ferreira won the gold medal on Friday, February 20, 2026.

The players

Alex Ferreira

A 31-year-old American freeskier from Aspen, Colorado, who is known for his entertaining YouTube persona "Hotdog Hans" and has previously won silver and bronze medals at the last two Olympic Games.

Henry Sildaru

An Estonian freeskier who competed against Ferreira in the men's halfpipe final.

Brendan Mackay

A Canadian freeskier who competed against Ferreira in the men's halfpipe final, finishing just 2.75 points behind Ferreira's winning score.

David Wise

A two-time Olympic champion in freeskiing who came to congratulate Ferreira despite not making the 2026 Olympic team.

Nick Goepper

An American freeskier who has won three Olympic medals in slopestyle and switched to the halfpipe in search of his first gold medal.

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What they’re saying

“Best moment of my life.”

— Alex Ferreira

“But honestly, the biggest thing that stands out about Alex, is that he is just an incredibly nice guy.”

— Brendan Mackay

“To go for it in that moment took serious guts. He is a real man.”

— Alex Ferreira

“You don't want to peak two years before the Games. But I'm stoked for him that it worked out tonight. It was one of the best runs I've seen him do in a long time, maybe ever, and I'm happy.”

— Gus Kenworthy, 2014 slopestyle silver medalist

“He had the silver, the bronze and he needed the gold. He was driven. A year ago, he said he was going to do this, and he did it.”

— Colleen Ferreira, Alex Ferreira's mother

What’s next

Ferreira plans to continue producing entertaining YouTube videos featuring his "Hotdog Hans" persona, while also focusing on his training and preparation for future major competitions.

The takeaway

Alex Ferreira's Olympic gold medal victory in the men's halfpipe event is a feel-good story that highlights the depth of American freeskiing talent and the perseverance of an athlete who finally achieved his lifelong dream of winning Olympic gold after previously earning silver and bronze medals.