Scotty James of Australia secured a silver medal in the men’s halfpipe final at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Friday, falling just short of gold as Japan’s Yuto Totsuka claimed the top spot with a score of 95.00. The result marks a historic achievement for James, making him the first Australian to win three Winter Olympic medals.
James, competing in Livigno, was aiming for his elusive Olympic gold, having previously won bronze at PyeongChang in 2018 and silver at Beijing in 2022. He was guaranteed at least a silver medal going into his final run after fellow Japanese rider Ryusei Yamada failed to improve upon his score of 92.
The Australian snowboarder attempted to surpass Totsuka’s leading score with a daring final trick – a backside double cork 1620, a maneuver involving four-and-a-half rotations. However, he was unable to land the attempt, resulting in a fall. “It was an amazing finals. I knew I had to move for something, I went for the back 16 [backwards entry with four and a half rotations] and then came unstuck,” James said, according to reports. He later questioned if a cleaner first run might have altered the outcome.
Despite the disappointment of not securing gold, James expressed pride in his accomplishment and perspective on the result. “I’m really proud, obviously. It’s hard to win medals at the Games, and I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t a little bit disappointed,” James stated on Nine after the medal ceremony. He emphasized the importance of his family, noting his young son wouldn’t be concerned with the color of the medal.
Yuto Totsuka’s victory represents a significant moment for Japan in the sport, showcasing what has been described as the most progressive halfpipe contest in snowboarding history. Totsuka opened with back-to-back triple cork 1440s and finished with a pair of double corks to achieve his winning score. Ryusei Yamada completed the podium, taking the bronze medal for Japan.
The Japanese team has demonstrated dominance in the snowboard park and pipe events at the Milan Cortina Games, having already secured three of four golds and half of the 12 medals awarded thus far. This performance stands in stark contrast to their debut at the 1998 Nagano Olympics, where Japanese riders finished 28th, 30th, 34th, and 36th in a field of 36.
The U.S. Team, meanwhile, has missed the men’s snowboard halfpipe podium for a second consecutive Olympics, ending a four-Games streak of podium finishes from 1998 through 2010. American riders Jake Pates, Alessandro Barbieri, and Chase Josey placed 8th, 10th, and 11th respectively. Three-time gold medalist Shaun White observed the final from the base of the course, marking his first Olympics as a spectator since 2002.
