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Norway's Frostad claims men's big air gold in thrilling competition

(L-R) US' silver medallist Mac Forehand, Norway's winner Tormod Frostad and Austria's bronze medallist Matej Svancer celebrate with their medals at the award ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa

Norway's Tormod Frostad beat the top favourites and claimed freestyle skiing men's big air gold at the Milan/Cortina Winter Games on Tuesday.

The 23-year-old was leading after the first two runs with scores of 95.25 and 97.00.

In the third and final run, United States' Mac Forehand took the lead with a monstrous score of 98.25 points, meaning Frostad needed to at least beat his first-run score.

And that was exactly what he did - registering the biggest individual score of the competition with 98.50 points to take the first title of his career with a total of 195.50 points.

"The last run, I'm already super happy with my own run, and I'm still a bit shocked. I did it for fun, and it worked out just fine, and I'm very happy," the Norwegian said.

"I can't wait to watch it back and see how it all looked, because it's impossible to tell when you're doing it. I'm beyond happy to land three runs, and that it took me to the top spot."

Ahead of the Winter Games, Frostad had only one World Cup win to his name.

Twice X Games winner Forehand had to settle for silver, while bronze went to Austria's Matej Svancer.

"I've never been in that position with two 95s before. I usually always mess up on my first or second jump and have to play it safe in my last two, but I landed the first two perfectly," Forehand said.

"I knew I had to one-up one of the tricks and I deliberated with my coaches for like five minutes at the top about what I should do. We talked about that trick (a nose butter triple cork 2160) for a while, and I just had to finally ski away and be OK and be alive."

The start of the competition was delayed by 15 minutes due to heavy snowfall. The weather conditions in Livigno have forced several changes to the freestyle skiing and snowboarding schedules.

(L-R) US' silver medallist Mac Forehand, Norway's winner Tormod Frostad and Austria's bronze medallist Matej Svancer celebrate with their medals at the award ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa
(L-R) US' silver medallist Mac Forehand, Norway's winner Tormod Frostad and Austria's bronze medallist Matej Svancer celebrate with their medals at the award ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa
Austria's Matej Svancer celebrates his bronze medal at the award ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa
Austria's Matej Svancer celebrates his bronze medal at the award ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa
Norway's Tormod Frostad celebrates his gold medal at the award ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa
Norway's Tormod Frostad celebrates his gold medal at the award ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa
US' Mac Forehand celebrates his silver medal at the medal ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa
US' Mac Forehand celebrates his silver medal at the medal ceremony after the Freestyle Skiing Men's Freeski Big Air Final at the Livigno Snow Park, as part of the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina. Oliver Weiken/dpa

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