James Claims Olympic Silver in Halfpipe as Technical Incident Disrupts Final Run

2026-02-14 general

Milan, Friday, 13 February 2026.
Australian veteran Scotty James secured silver at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, scoring 93.50 to finish behind Japan’s Yuto Totsuka. The event concluded dramatically when a snapping overhead camera cable reportedly interfered with James’s final run, denying the 31-year-old a last chance to capture his elusive gold medal.

A High-Stakes Duel in Milan

Entering the final on Friday, February 13, 2026, as the top qualifier with a score of 94.00, Scotty James was positioned as the overwhelming favorite to secure the Olympic title [1][7]. However, the 31-year-old’s campaign faced immediate turbulence when he fell towards the end of his first run, resulting in a score of 48.75 [5]. Recovering his composure, James delivered a formidable second run that earned a score of 93.50, momentarily placing him in contention for the top spot [1][5]. This effort, however, trailed the performance of Japan’s Yuto Totsuka, who executed a flawless run scoring 95.00 to seize the gold medal [4][6]. Ryusei Yamada, also of Japan, rounded out the podium with a bronze medal score of 92.00 [5].

Technical Disruption Marks Final Attempt

The competition concluded under bizarre and controversial circumstances during James’s third and decisive run. While attempting to surpass Totsuka’s benchmark, reports indicate that a cable from an overhead camera snapped during the Australian’s performance [4]. Following the incident, James was unable to complete the run required to bridge the 1.50-point gap, crashing out as he ran out of pipe on his final trick [1]. Visibly devastated, James remained hunched on the snow before congratulating his rivals [1]. Speaking to broadcasters after the event, an emotional James apologized to fans back home, stating, “I could cry… I wanted to win it for Australia,” while acknowledging that “the sun rises tomorrow” [5].

Strategic Evolution and Legacy

James arrived in Milan with a strategic objective to “revolutionize” halfpipe snowboarding, specifically by focusing on technical backside riding techniques [3]. His plan for the Games involved a highly difficult configuration of two frontside hits and three backside hits, a deviation from the standard run structure intended to increase physical demand and technical difficulty [2]. Despite falling short of gold, the silver medal adds to James’s impressive Olympic tally, which includes a silver from the 2022 Beijing Games and a bronze from PyeongChang in 2018 [3][5]. His preparation for the 2026 Games had been impeccable, including a victory at the Laax Open in January and a record-tying eighth X Games win [3].

Mixed Fortunes for the Australian Team

While James endured a heartbreaking finish in the halfpipe, Friday proved to be a significant day for the broader Australian team. Compatriot Josie Baff secured a gold medal in the women’s snowboard cross, storming to victory after initially ranking 17th following the opening seeding run [5]. In the men’s halfpipe final, fellow Australian Valentino Guseli also competed, recovering from errors in his first two attempts to score an 88.00 on his final run, finishing in fifth place [1][5]. James, reflecting on his own result and the future, noted that he did not need a gold medal to validate his identity as a snowboarder, emphasizing his pride in how he interprets the sport [3].

Sources

Winter Olympics Snowboarding