American Mac Forehand lands epic jump but falls just short of gold in Winter Olympics big air

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In a thrilling men's freeski big air final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, American Mac Forehand delivered an incredible final jump scoring 98.25 points, just shy of gold medalist Tormod Frostad of Norway's winning score of 98.50. Forehand had been in contention for the gold after strong earlier runs, but Frostad's technical and stylish final jump edged him out for the top spot on the podium.

Why it matters

The big air event at the Winter Olympics has become one of the marquee attractions, with skiers pushing the limits of what's possible with increasingly difficult and creative tricks. Forehand's near-miss for gold highlights the incredibly high level of competition in this discipline, where the margin for error is razor-thin at the top.

The details

Forehand entered the final round in second place after strong earlier runs that included a triple cork 2160 and a nose butter triple cork 1980, both of which scored 95.00 points. On his final jump, Forehand put down an incredible nose butter triple cork 2160 with a safety grab that scored 98.25 points, just shy of the winning mark. Norway's Tormod Frostad, who had led after the first two rounds, responded with an equally impressive final trick that was judged to be more technical and stylish, earning him the gold medal with a score of 98.50.

• The men's freeski big air final took place on February 17, 2026 in Livigno, Italy during the 2026 Winter Olympics.
• Forehand's final jump that scored 98.25 points occurred on his third and final run of the competition.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Forehand and the other American freeskiers will look to build on their strong performances in the big air event as they prepare for the upcoming 2026-27 World Cup season.