Oldham rises to the occasion to get another Big Air shot

Love was in the Big Air on Saturday as Megan Oldham (CAN) showed passion and poise to top qualification with a two-run score of 171.75.

Just behind Oldham were two Beijing 2022 Big Air medalists competing at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games — defending champion Eileen Gu (CHN) with 170.75 points and bronze medalist Mathilde Gremaud (SUI) on 169.00.

All three were on the Slopestyle podium on 9 February and will be looking for their second medal of the Games in Monday’s Big Air final.

Slopestyle bronze medalist Oldham was the only competitor in the 27-strong field on Valentine’s Day to break the 90-point mark with a single run, stomping a switch left double cork 1260 on run one for 91.25 points.

After faltering on her second attempt, a clean 80.50-point effort on her third run ensured she qualified first, as she did in Beijing 2022.

Gu put down a double cork 1440 with her first competitive Big Air run in four years to score 86.00 points, then put down a left double cork 1080 blunt in her final attempt for a score of 84.75 that would be the highest score of any competitor in the third run.

Gremaud secured her final spot on the strength of her first two runs at Livigno Snow Park, landing a switch double cork 1080 for 85.25 and left double cork 1260 for 83.75.

The hosts can also dream about the prospect of a first Olympic Freestyle Skiing medal for Italy.

Home favorite Flora Tabanelli (ITA) qualified sixth (161.50) with a torn ACL, and she will be joined in the 12-strong final by compatriot Maria Gasslitter (ITA), who was 10th (156.00).

Tabanelli is one of Italy’s biggest medal contenders at these Games but had to withdraw from the Slopestyle event as she was not ready to feature after tearing her ACL in November. But the 2025 Big Air World Champion competed for the first time since that injury on Saturday.

Oldham cannot wait for the final that starts at 19:30 CET tomorrow, in part so that she can make up for her disappointment of finishing fourth at Beijing 2022.

“All the girls are making a statement and I think we're going to see some insane stuff in finals,” she said. “I'm just really excited to be part of it."