Frostad and Forehand finish one-two in record-setting Big Air final

On a record-setting night of one-upmanship, Tormod Frostad (NOR) had the final word, earning the highest single-run score in Olympic freeski history with the final drop of an epic Big Air showdown to snatch gold from Mac Forehand (USA) 

In the penultimate run under the snow and lights at Livigno Snow Park on Tuesday, Forehand stomped a never-been-done left nosebutter triple cork 2160 safety grab for 98.25 points to take the lead with a 193.25 total. But his joint-highest single-run score across Men's and Women's Big Air, Halfpipe, and Slopestyle lasted seconds.

"I knew I had to one-up one of the tricks and I deliberated with my coaches for like five minutes at the top about what I should do,” Forehand said. “We talked about that trick for a while, and I just had to finally ski away and be OK and be alive.

Frostad, who had the best score in each of the first two runs, responded with an almost-never-been-done right nose-butter double bio 1620 safety grab with his final hit of the night, earning himself a near-perfect score 98.50 points. Frostad himself is the only freeskier ever to land the trick, which he did just a few weeks ago at the X Games, though with less precision. 

Frostad’s two-run total of 195.50 earned him the biggest title of his career. Coming into the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Frostad had just two Big Air World Cup podium finishes — a first place and a runner-up result from 2024 at Beijing and Chur respectively.

“The last run, I'm already super happy with my own run, and I'm still a bit shocked. I did it for fun, and it worked out just fine, and I'm very happy," he said. "I'm beyond happy to land three runs, and that it took me to the top spot.

Matej Svancer (AUT) took bronze with a 191.25 total after he too landed all three of his runs. He had moved up to provisional second place with his final attempt — a switch left tailbutter triple cork 2160 safety grab for 96.00 points, only for Forehand to leapfrog him with the next run. It was the first senior Olympic medal for each of the trio, with Svancer adding to his Lausanne 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games gold.

Svancer’s score would have been good enough for Beijing 2022 gold. Defending Olympic champion Birk Ruud (NOR), who finished eighth on 118.25 on Tuesday, had a total of 187.75 points in the final four years ago.

"It was kind of unexpected,” Svancer said. “I'm pretty stoked about it. Everything worked out tonight, which was crazy.

Troy Podmilsak (USA), third to drop in run one, got the 90s party going with his 90.50-point effort. In fact, half of the 12-man field broke the 90 point barrier with their first run, with Frostad setting the tone. His nose-butter right double 14 garnered 95.25 points.

Top qualifier Forehand wrapped up the first round with a switch left triple 21 mute grab for 95.00 points, before delivering a nose-butter triple cork 1980 as promised for another 95.00.

Frostad landed a switch right tail butter bio 1620 safety with his second effort, earning 97.00 points to set up an epic finale.

In the finish area following Frostad’s electric final effort, the mood was jubilation for all three competitors, with Forehand seeming to sum up everyone’s feelings when he said, “I don’t even care I got bumped. That was insane.”