Silver medalist Mac Forehand of the United States looks on during the medal ceremony for the men's big air final during the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games at Livigno Snow Park. Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

American freestyle skier Mac Forehand defends judges after controversial Olympic Big Air final

By Clark Dalton | Last updated Feb 18, 2026 8:01 AM ET

Freestyle skier Mac Forehand seems much nicer than many American fans.

Forehand competed in the Big Air final at the Milan Cortina Olympics on Tuesday. After landing a trick that looked like it came straight out of a video game, it appeared the 24-year-old would win a gold medal for Team USA. The judges had other ideas.

They gave him a 98.25 for his sweet trick, bringing his total to 193.25 and earning him the silver medal. (In freestyle skiing, athletes' two best scores count toward their total.) Norwegian Tormod Frostad won the gold medal (195.50). Forehand still didn't act like a sore loser after just missing out on first.

Mac Forehand discusses missing out on gold medal

"I've seen it so many times before: I got robbed, someone I beat got robbed — rob this, rob that," Forehand said (per Yahoo Sports' Dan Wolken). "But we know so much about our sport. We know what scores well, what should do well. The guys who are out here tonight know what the podium is going to be at all times. People on the outside perspective might not really understand that, but that's just how it's going to be. And, you know, judged sports — like in figure skating — it's the same way. But what do they really know about their sport?"

Mac Forehand dropped a stunning 98.25 in his final run to secure SILVER in snowy Livigno. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/BExoNDgmhu
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 17, 2026

Fair point from Forehand. It's likely many fans didn't know what freestyle skiing was until Tuesday and can't name a single trick. But they can still debate whether Frostad's last trick was better than Forehand's.

Frostad scored a 98.50 on his final run. However, it appears Forehand got way more air. The American still didn't gripe about that and credited the Norwegian.

He needed a huge score... and he GOT IT. Norway's Tormod Frostad delivers a 98.50 on his final run to take home the Gold. #WinterOlympics pic.twitter.com/HfUXmgK8qo
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 17, 2026

"He does the butter and then pushes against what his skis and body are doing — that's why it's so hard," Forehand said while explaining Frostad's last run, per NBC Sports' Will Imbo. "It's pushing the boundaries in a different way. It's so cool and unique. That's good for our sport."

Forehand's explanation clarifies why Frostad's move was so difficult. Still, that's not going to stop casual fans from saying the judges robbed him, despite knowing way less about the sport.

Clark Dalton

Dalton is a 2022 journalism graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He gained experience in sports media over the past seven years — from live broadcasting and creating short films to podcasting and producing. In college, he wrote for The Daily Texan. He loves sports and enjoys hiking, kayaking and camping.

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