DAILY BREAKDOWN 14 – Triple Gold drama as Livigno powers toward the Finale
Feb 20, 2026·ilovesnow:format(webp))
Livigno owned the spotlight on Friday, delivering a triple hit of freestyle drama as the Games edged closer to their finale.
Ski Cross set the tone with a high-speed showdown that reshuffled the Olympic order, while the Aerials hill produced a rare family fairytale, just days after one gold, another followed in the same household. By nightfall, the Halfpipe turned into a stage for redemption and reward, as a long Olympic journey finally came full circle under the lights.
With only a handful of medals left on the table, every run now carries extra weight and Livigno is making sure the Games finish at full throttle.
Medal Winners
| Event | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Cross | Daniela MAIER GER | Fanny SMITH SUI | Sandra NAESLUND SWE |
| Freestyle Skiing Men's Aerials | Xindi WANG CHN | Noe ROTH SUI | Tianma LI CHN |
| Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Halfpipe | Alex FERREIRA USA | Henry SILDARU EST | Brendan MACKAY CAN |
Athletes & Storylines to Watch
Freestyle Skiing Women's Ski Cross
Daniela Maier (GER) delivered the performance of her career to claim Olympic Ski Cross gold at Milano Cortina 2026, upgrading the bronze she won in Beijing 2022 to secure her first Olympic title. The German set the pace from the seeding run and maintained her dominance through every round, holding her nerve in the Big Final to take victory.
Fanny Smith (SUI) also moved up one step from her previous Olympic bronze to silver, earning a third career Games medal, while defending champion Sandra Naeslund (SWE) returned to the podium with bronze. On a day of high intensity Maier’s composure and speed proved decisive in Livigno.
Freestyle Skiing Men's Aerials
Wang Xindi (CHN) followed his wife Xu Mengtao’s golden triumph by claiming Men’s Aerials gold in Livigno, completing a remarkable Olympic double for the couple. The three-time Olympian delivered a superb back double full-double full-full for 132.60 points in the super final, securing his first Olympic title.
Switzerland’s Noe Roth prevented a Chinese sweep with silver, while Li Tianma (CHN) took bronze to underline China’s depth.
Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Halfpipe
Alex Ferreira (USA) completed his Olympic Halfpipe medal set in Livigno, delivering a decisive third run to claim gold after previously winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022. Estonia’s Henry Sildaru pushed him to the limit and won silver, securing his nation’s first medal of Milano Cortina 2026, while Canada’s Brendan Mackay surged into bronze with a huge final run.
In a dramatic best-of-three contest, Ferreira rose at the crucial moment to restore USA’s Halfpipe dominance.
Through My Eyes | A Special Letter
I Love Snow an Olympic campaign that shines a light beyond results and podiums, focusing on the personal journeys that lead athletes to the Olympic stage.
In Through My Eyes / A Special Letter, selected competitors share intimate reflections on preparation, pressure and what it truly means to compete at the Games.
Marielle Thompson’s (CAN) journey spans Olympic glory, devastating injury, and the long road back. Through a deeply personal letter to her younger self, she revisits the highs, the lows, and the unwavering belief that carried her from Whistler to another Olympic dream.
I Love Snow
“I Love Snow – Passion Beyond Limits” brings fans closer to the athletes and stories that power snow sports across every FIS discipline - Olympic and Paralympic alike. The promise: authentic, emotional storytelling that turns moments into lasting fandom beyond Milano Cortina 2026.
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