There are moments in sports when the line between victory and heartbreak is drawn in the thinnest of margins—a single trick, a split-second decision, or, as it happened in Livigno, Italy, half a spin in the men’s halfpipe final at the 2026 Winter Olympics. On the night of February 13, the world’s best snowboarders gathered under the bright lights and biting cold, each hoping to etch their name in history. For Australian superstar Scotty James, it was a night of ambition, innovation, and, ultimately, bittersweet silver.
James, now a five-time Olympian at 31, entered these Games with a trophy case brimming with accolades: eight X Games halfpipe titles (tying the legendary Shaun White), a recent Laax Open victory in Switzerland, and Olympic bronze and silver medals from PyeongChang and Beijing, respectively. Yet, the elusive gold medal remained the missing piece in his storied career. More than just chasing hardware, James arrived in Livigno with a mission to “revolutionize snowboarding,” as he boldly declared in a news conference on February 7. “My goal this year was to revolutionize snowboarding in the way that I would interpret it,” James said. “It’s obviously subjective, but I wanted to push it in the way that made me full.”
That revolutionary spirit was on full display during the men’s halfpipe final. James, renowned for his technical prowess and focus on backside riding, planned to execute three backside hits in his runs—a rarity in a field where most riders favored frontside maneuvers. “I plan to push it in the directions I want to push it,” he explained, aiming to advance the sport’s boundaries and challenge both his peers and the judges’ perceptions of difficulty.
From the outset, the competition was fierce. Eight of the twelve finalists landed triple corks—an astounding leap from just one rider accomplishing the feat four years prior. The bar had been raised, and the world was watching as Japan’s Yuto Totsuka, a 24-year-old veteran of near-misses and relentless training, seized the opportunity to claim his own moment of glory.
Totsuka’s journey to gold was anything but straightforward. After finishing 11th in 2018 and 10th in 2022, he spent years perfecting a run that would set him apart. This time, he unleashed a pair of 1440-degree triple corks—one riding backward, the other forward—executed with precision and daring. “There was a time when I was really thinking about giving up,” Totsuka admitted after the event. “To be able to do two triples is something I’m quite proud of.” His second run vaulted him to the top of the standings, putting immense pressure on the rest of the field.
For James, the gauntlet was thrown. On his final attempt—the 36th and last run of a breathtaking three-run final—he set out to do what no one had ever done in a contest: a 1620-degree spin, half a rotation more than his previous best. The trick, an “NBD” (Never Been Done), was a testament to James’ relentless drive to innovate. But as he soared above the coping and spun through the crisp night air, fate intervened. Landing on his backside, James couldn’t quite stick the landing. The dream of gold slipped away, replaced by a second Olympic silver.
“To be honest, I’m a bit numb,” James confessed, kneeling on the side of the halfpipe, his head buried in the red boxing gloves he uses as mittens. The disappointment was palpable—not just for him, but for his family, who had traveled from across the globe to support him. As his mother Celia shared, “All week long, he said he’d do his best. But, I think he wanted that gold. I think he doesn’t think he did his best. That’s the hard part. I feel devastated for him.”
The night was not without drama beyond the competition. During James’ final run, a cable cord suspended over the halfpipe snapped, striking a child in the face. The child was stunned but thankfully unharmed. James, locked in on his history-making attempt, was unaware of the incident until after his run.
Meanwhile, the stands erupted with celebration for the Japanese team. Fans waved flags and cheered as Totsuka was joined on the podium by teammate Ryusei Yamada, who claimed bronze with a run that prioritized precision and technical spins over the increasingly common triple corks. Ruka Hirano and Cam Melville Ives, the 19-year-old from New Zealand, also impressed by landing two triple corks each, underscoring just how far the sport has progressed.
Ayumu Hirano, the 2022 gold medalist and a favorite to repeat, competed despite a significant injury suffered just a month prior. “I’m still injured,” Hirano said. “I couldn’t do my best here. But I was happy to be here to represent Japan.” His presence was a reminder of the resilience and camaraderie that define snowboarding’s elite.
For James, the journey continues. His one-year-old son Leo, who joined him in Italy along with the rest of his family, remains a source of inspiration. “I think pressure is a beautiful thing,” James reflected. “If you let it. I’ll soak in that beauty. At least, that’s what I tell myself.” He’s not ready to hang up his board yet, emphasizing, “It’s also not my last go-round, either.”
James’ approach to snowboarding is as much about artistry as it is about competition. In his “GOAT room” back home, memorabilia from legends like Kobe Bryant, Tiger Woods, and Roger Federer share space with his prized possession: a piece of cardboard signed and illustrated by Muhammad Ali, titled “Guiding Light.” It’s a fitting metaphor for James’ career—a guiding light for the next generation, pushing boundaries and chasing greatness on his own terms.
As the snow settled in Livigno, the men’s halfpipe final was hailed as perhaps the greatest contest in history, a showcase of innovation, athleticism, and heart. Totsuka’s gold, James’ audacious attempt at the unprecedented, and the collective leap forward in technical difficulty have set a new standard for the sport. For now, James will add another silver to his collection, but his quest to revolutionize snowboarding—and perhaps one day claim that elusive gold—remains as alive as ever.