On a crisp February day in Livigno, Italy, the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle final at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics delivered all the drama and artistry fans have come to expect from the sport’s biggest stage. Alex Hall, the laid-back American star with roots in both Alaska and Italy, returned to the Olympic podium, this time capturing silver in a contest that showcased the relentless evolution of freeskiing and the razor-thin margins separating the world’s best athletes.
Hall, who famously stormed to gold four years ago in Beijing, arrived in Italy as the defending champion and a clear crowd favorite. The stakes were high, not just for the medals, but for the sense of homecoming: Hall’s mother is from Bologna, and his childhood was spent carving slopes in Switzerland, just across the border. With dual U.S. and Italian citizenship and a deep connection to the region, Hall’s presence in Livigno was more than just another Olympic run—it was a return to his roots.
But the slopestyle course in Livigno was no walk in the park. Hall described the setup as one of the toughest he’d ever faced, admitting that he could only land his planned tricks about one in every ten practice runs. “I went to bed just knowing, like, the odds of getting a medal are so slim,” Hall confessed after the event. “Because everyone's so good and the run I was going to try and do, the chances of landing that were small.”
Despite the daunting course and the pressure of defending his title, Hall’s approach was characteristically relaxed. He’s known for his creative, free-spirited style—a skier who sees the course as a canvas and himself as an artist. “I’m just gonna go ski, and I like skiing, so in a way it felt effortless because you’re just excited to go ski every day,” Hall told reporters. That mindset, he believes, is the secret to his longevity and success in a sport where risk and reward are in constant tension.
The final itself was a showcase of the sport’s progression. Hall’s second run was a masterclass in technical innovation and style. He posted a score of 85.75, vaulting him into second place. It was a run that included a creative use of the knuckle section—Hall was the only competitor to pull off a unique “bring-back” trick there, a nod to his reputation for seeing lines and possibilities that others miss. Yet, as the pressure mounted for a repeat gold, Hall’s third and final run ended early with a slip on one of the opening rails, closing the door on a second Olympic title.
Norway’s Birk Ruud, the event favorite and reigning world champion, edged Hall by just 0.53 points, scoring an 86.28 on his own second run. Ruud, who also holds the Olympic big air gold from Beijing and back-to-back world titles, was near flawless throughout the event. Even his final “victory lap” run—after gold was already secured—ended with a fall, a reminder that even the best can be humbled by the sport’s complexity.
New Zealand’s Luca Harrington rounded out the podium, taking bronze with a score of 85.15 on his third run. The American contingent also included Konnor Ralph, who finished ninth with a score of 66.76, and Mac Forehand, who placed 11th after a tough fall in his final run. Both Ralph and Forehand will have another shot at glory in the upcoming big air event, with qualifications set for February 15.
For Hall, the silver medal is as much a testament to his consistency and adaptability as it is to his technical prowess. Since his Olympic debut, Hall has cemented his place in the sport’s history books. Born in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1998, Hall moved to Zurich at age one and spent his formative years skiing the Alps. By 2026, his resume sparkles: two Olympic medals (gold in 2022, silver in 2026), 15 X Games medals (including an unprecedented four golds in different disciplines), and the rare feat of winning the FIS Crystal Globe in both slopestyle and big air during the 2024-2025 season. He’s also credited as the first skier to land a switch 2160 in competition—a dizzying six full rotations that left the freeski world in awe.
Hall’s influence extends beyond the slopes. Standing at 6’4” (193 cm), he’s known for a distinctive, flowing style that judges and fans alike find irresistible. Off the snow, Hall has become a fashion icon, modeling for Vogue and building his ski-culture streetwear brand, “Hall Pass.” With over 1.3 million followers across TikTok and Instagram, his reach is as global as his upbringing.
Yet, for all the accolades and attention, Hall remains grounded. “Maybe, in a way, I’m almost more proud of it,” he said of his silver medal. “I'm really proud of myself for keeping up with how good everyone is nowadays. The tricks people are throwing in slopestyle runs now were big air tricks two or three years ago, so the fact that I'm able to stick with the young guns and put a run down that I'm really proud of is pretty cool. Walking away with any medal is a huge success.”
The camaraderie among the freeskiers was evident throughout the competition. “In our sport, every event is a different winner,” said American teammate Mac Forehand, who finished 11th. “It’s not consistent at all. Just to get on the podium is huge no matter the event.” Hall echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the shared joy of seeing fellow athletes land their best runs, regardless of the final standings.
Looking ahead, Hall’s Olympic journey isn’t over. With the men’s big air event set to begin on February 15, expectations are high that he’ll attempt a never-before-seen trick. Now competing with the pressure of slopestyle behind him, Hall will have the freedom to chase history once again.
As the sun set over Livigno, Hall left the course with his trademark smile and no regrets. “None at all because I knew the run I tried was so hard that I’m surprised I even landed it in three tries,” he reflected. “When you do one of these runs and it’s that hard, you just black out. You drop in and forget everything you did and end up at the bottom. You don’t really remember how it was. I knew there was a slight mistake in there, but I didn’t know how severe it was.”
With another Olympic medal in hand and more challenges on the horizon, Alex Hall’s story continues—one creative line at a time.