DAILY COUNTDOWN 7 – From GOAT pursuit, a Snowboard Halfpipe showdown and a new Champion in Snowboard Cross

Friday’s programme balances legacy and opportunity, with a record chase in cross-country, an open women’s snowboard cross field, and what many are calling the deepest men’s halfpipe final in Olympic history.

In Tesero, Johannes Hoesfloat Klaebo (NOR) lines up in the 10km Interval Start Free aiming to move within touching distance of Bjørn Dæhlie’s all-time Olympic gold record, carrying both form and momentum into another endurance test. Livigno guarantees a new women’s snowboard cross champion, with reigning Olympic champions absent and a wide-open bracket inviting breakthrough performances.

The day concludes under the lights in the men’s snowboard halfpipe, where Scotty James (AUS) leads a stacked field that includes defending champion Ayumu Hirano (JPN). With margins measured in hundredths and difficulty levels at an all-time high.

Inside the Numbers – Day 7 Snapshot

• 3 medal events across cross-country skiing and snowboard

• 1 record in sight: Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo chasing Olympic gold No. 8

• Guaranteed new champion: Women’s Snowboard Cross crowns a fresh gold medallist

• 94.00: Top qualification score set by Scotty James in men’s halfpipe

• 32 riders in Snowboard Cross, where races can be decided by hundredths of a second

• Medal race update: 25 podiums awarded, 32 still to be decided on the road to 57 ski and snowboard medals at Milano Cortina 2026

Medal Events Day 7 – Friday, 13 February 

• 11:45 Tesero - Cross-Country - Skiing Men's 10km Interval Start Free - Results

• 14:40 Livigno – Snowboard - Women's Snowboard Cross - Results

• 19:30 Livigno – Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Halfpipe - Results

Across the Games, a total of 57 Olympic podiums will be awarded in ski and snowboard disciplines.

All times are local CET. Full Olympic schedule available here.

Athletes & Storylines to Watch

Cross-Country - Skiing Men's 10km Interval Start Free

Cross-Country - Skiing Men's 10km Interval Start Free

Johannes Hoesfloat Klaebo (NOR) heads into the Men’s Interval Start Free chasing an eighth Olympic gold, with rivals already calling him the “GOAT” as he closes in on Bjørn Dæhlie’s record of eight Winter Olympic titles. After dominating the Sprint Classic, Klaebo says he feels calmer and more balanced than in previous championships, embracing a more enjoyment-driven approach. Podium contenders including Martin Loewstroem Nyenget (NOR) and Mathis Desloges (FRA) acknowledge the standard he sets while still believing they can challenge him. With a deep Norwegian squad and rising talents like Edvin Anger in the mix, the stage is set for another high-stakes test of cross-country supremacy.

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Snowboard - Women's Snowboard Cross

Women’s Snowboard Cross returns in Livigno with no reigning Olympic champion in the field, guaranteeing a new gold medallist in 2026. With Lindsey Jacobellis (USA) absent and Meryeta O’Dine (CAN) out due to a fractured ankle, Chloe Trespeuch (FRA) stands as the only Beijing 2022 medallist competing. Former champions Eva Samkova (CZE) and home favorite Michela Moioli (ITA) add experience, while current Crystal Globe leader Charlotte Bankes (GBR) and Josie Baff (AUT) arrive in strong form.

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Snowboard - Men's Snowboard Halfpipe

Scotty James (AUS) leads the charge into the Olympic Halfpipe final after topping qualification with 94.00, moving closer to completing his Olympic medal set which already includes silver (2022) and bronze (2018). The Australian unveiled a switch backside double cork 1440 Japan and believes the final will be the most competitive in Olympic history. A formidable Japanese quartet led by Yuto Totsuka and defending Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano stands in his way, alongside team-mate Valentino Guseli (AUS). With the top six all capable of winning, the stage is set to be an incredible showdown under the lights.

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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.

In this “Through My Eyes” episode, Su Yiming (CHN) returns to the Beijing venue where he made Olympic history. Standing where he once won gold, he reflects on the pressure, emotions, and defining moments that shaped one of the most unforgettable performances in winter sports.

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.