The men’s freeski halfpipe qualification at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, delivered a dramatic and sobering reminder of the sport’s razor-thin line between triumph and heartbreak. On February 20, 2026, all eyes were on 19-year-old New Zealander Finley Melville Ives, the reigning world and X Games champion, as he dropped into the halfpipe as the event’s gold medal favorite. But the day took a shocking turn that left fans, fellow athletes, and an entire nation holding their breath.
Melville Ives entered the qualification round under immense pressure after crashing out in his first run. The stakes couldn’t have been higher for his second attempt. With a conservative start, he built up to a massive, twisting jump, soaring nearly five meters above the lip of the halfpipe. But as he came down, disaster struck—his legs gave way, he lost a ski, and he tumbled violently along the snow. The hush that fell over the crowd was palpable; TV cameras cut away, focusing instead on the shocked faces in the stands and the anxious New Zealand coaching staff at the top of the slope.
Medical teams rushed to Melville Ives’ side. For about seven agonizing minutes, he lay motionless on the snow as doctors assessed the situation. Spectators, both in Livigno and watching around the world, sent messages of hope and support, fearing the worst for the young star. "Ah the tears are pouring out for Finley Melville Ives, poor kid only 19 I do hope he is okay," one viewer wrote, echoing the sentiment of many.
Eventually, Melville Ives was stretchered off the course to a warm ovation from the crowd. His family, who had traveled to Italy to watch him compete, were present as he was taken to the medical center for further assessment. The New Zealand Olympic Team issued a statement soon after: "Fin is with his family and being assessed by medical professionals. He is stable and positive." Team New Zealand later confirmed, "Everything is stable and positive. I am speaking with his mother, who is with him. He is currently undergoing medical treatment." The BBC also reported that Melville Ives was conscious and talking to medical staff—a huge relief for all concerned.
The magnitude of the crash was not lost on commentators and athletes alike. BBC commentator Ed Leigh said, "Oh, no, no, no. You don’t want to see a final where you don’t have everyone there. When the favourite goes down like this, it’s so, so difficult to watch. It is an awful reminder of just how brutal this discipline is. They are pushing the limits, the fine line between crashing out and putting down a perfect run." His co-commentator added, "This is a heartbreaking moment for halfpipe skiing in 2026. Everyone was so excited to see him show the world what he can do and raise the level of the other boys." British freeski halfpiper Liam Richards reflected on the risks and rewards of the sport: "It’s what we live for, to be honest. The adrenaline that comes out of landing the runs and landing new tricks, it’s the best feeling in the world. Obviously, we do risk ourselves, but we signed up for that, and I think what comes out of it, the adrenaline, is the best thing ever, and it makes it all worth it."
Melville Ives’ twin brother, Campbell, also competed at these Winter Olympics, finishing 12th in the snowboard halfpipe event the previous week. The Melville Ives family’s Olympic journey has been marked by both soaring highs and crushing lows, a testament to the unpredictable nature of elite winter sports.
The qualification event itself had already been postponed by 24 hours due to heavy snow, adding another layer of tension for competitors. When the action finally began, it proved a tough day for the entire New Zealand contingent. Three out of four Kiwi athletes lost a ski in at least one of their two runs. Ben Harrington led the way with a clean first run, landing him in 9th place. Despite slipping to 12th after his second run, Harrington nervously waited as the rest of the field finished before learning he had secured the final qualifying spot. "Knowing I had made the finals was an insane feeling," Harrington said. "My biggest goal was just to come out and land some runs. I had knee surgery just over a year ago, so it was a mission to get back here but we did it." On the slopes, Harrington dedicated his second run to his fallen teammate: "Finski, that was for you, brother."
Meanwhile, Gustav Legnavsky and Luke Harrold, the other two New Zealand competitors, finished 14th and 15th, respectively, and failed to qualify for the final. Harrold had been in contention after his first run, placing 11th, but lost a ski in the second run. "It was a tough day out there," Harrold admitted. "Training went well but, unfortunately, I couldn't put down the run I wanted to in the two runs. I just want to say thanks to everyone who supported me through my whole journey, it's been pretty incredible. I couldn't put it down today for you guys but I know I will eventually." Legnavsky echoed the disappointment: "I'm pretty bummed ... I have more, I know I have more."
The men’s freeski halfpipe final is set for 7:30am New Zealand time on Saturday, February 21, 2026 (18:30 GMT, February 20 in Livigno). With Melville Ives sidelined, the field opens up for a new champion. Americans Alex Ferreira, Nick Goepper, and Hunter Hess, along with Canadian Brendan Mackay, are among the top contenders. Kiwi fans will be rallying behind Ben Harrington, hoping he can channel the fighting spirit of his injured teammate.
New Zealand’s presence at these Games has already been historic. Zoi Sadowski-Synnott became the world’s most decorated Olympic snowboarder with her silver medal in the women’s snowboard slopestyle event. Luca Harrington brought home bronze in the men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle, and Sadowski-Synnott also claimed New Zealand’s first medal of the Games in the big air event. The Kiwi legacy in freestyle skiing is strong—Nico Porteous, after all, captured gold in this very event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
As the world awaits the men’s halfpipe final, the absence of Finley Melville Ives looms large. His crash serves as a stark reminder of the risks these athletes embrace in pursuit of Olympic glory. Yet, the Kiwi squad’s resilience and camaraderie shine through, with Ben Harrington carrying the torch into Saturday’s showdown. For now, all thoughts remain with Melville Ives as he recovers—his competitive fire and spirit undiminished, even as fate dealt him a cruel blow on the world’s biggest stage.