Yuto Totsuka of Japan won the men’s snowboard halfpipe gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, topping a three-run final at Livigno Snow Park with a best score of 95.00. The victory delivered Japan a second consecutive Olympic halfpipe title after Ayumu Hirano’s gold at Beijing 2022 and gave Totsuka his first Olympic medal at his third Games.
What is Olympic Snowboard Halfpipe?
Snowboard halfpipe is one of the most spectacular disciplines at the Winter Olympics. Riders drop into a semi-circular snow pipe and perform a sequence of aerial tricks off both walls, gaining height, rotation and amplitude as they progress down the course. Judges score each run out of 100 on overall impression, covering difficulty, amplitude, variety, execution and progression.
Final rounds are typically best of three, with the highest single run counting for the podium. Halfpipe has been on the Olympic programme since Nagano 1998.
When did the Men’s Halfpipe Final Take Place?
The men’s halfpipe final was held on Friday 13 February 2026 at Livigno Snow Park, during the first full weekend of Milano Cortina 2026. Qualifying had been staged the previous day.
Where was it Held?
Livigno Snow Park hosted all Olympic snowboard and freestyle skiing park and pipe events at Milano Cortina 2026. Livigno is a high-altitude resort in the Italian Alps close to the Swiss border, sitting at around 1,800 metres and offering the reliable snow conditions needed for pipe competition.
Results
Totsuka took gold with a second run of 95.00 that no other rider could match. Scotty James of Australia, a three-time world champion and two-time Olympic medallist, won silver with 93.50. Ryusei Yamada added a second Japanese medal with bronze on 92.00. Defending champion Ayumu Hirano missed the podium after two falls on his riskier runs.
The final pushed the discipline’s technical ceiling further, with multiple riders attempting triple corks and switch backside 1440s. Totsuka’s run combined a cab double 1440, frontside double 1260 and backside 1260 at record amplitude.
Background and Form Going In
Totsuka arrived at his third Games after finishing fourth in Pyeongchang 2018 and seventh in Beijing 2022. Scotty James had been the pre-event favourite alongside Hirano. Yamada, the 2025 X Games champion, was seen as Japan’s emerging star. American Lucas Foster and Switzerland’s Jan Scherrer completed the final field.
History and Records
Japan has now won back-to-back Olympic halfpipe gold medals after Hirano’s triple cork-powered victory in Beijing. The United States dominated the event between 2002 and 2018 through Shaun White and Hirano’s rival era, while Scotty James has been the most consistent non-American force with three world titles.
How to Watch (Replays)
Highlights and Totsuka’s winning run are available on olympics.com, Eurosport and Discovery+ across Europe, NBC and Peacock in the United States, and BBC iPlayer in the United Kingdom. The official Olympics YouTube channel carries the full three-run final.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won gold in men’s snowboard halfpipe at Milano Cortina 2026?
Yuto Totsuka of Japan with a best score of 95.00.
When was the men’s halfpipe final held?
Friday 13 February 2026 at Livigno Snow Park.
Who won silver and bronze?
Scotty James of Australia took silver and Ryusei Yamada of Japan won bronze.
Did Shaun White compete?
No. White retired after Beijing 2022 and did not return for Milano Cortina 2026.