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Japan Takes Home Another Men's Halfpipe Olympic Gold Medal

Originally posted on SNOWBOARDER | By Josh Sullivan | Last updated Feb 13, 2026 3:37 PM ET

Scotty James needed a perfect run to secure the gold. He fell on the final hit of his final run, attempting a 1620, and came up just short.

Yuto Totsuka is your newest Olympic Gold Medalist.

Totsuka opened up his second run with back-to-back triple corks—with the first one being switch. Add in an alley oop backside 900, a double cork 1080, and a double cork 1240, and he scored a 95 that bumped him up to the top of the leaderboard. He tried to go even bigger on his final run, ending with a 1620 attempt, but he ran out of room and hit the lip of the halfpipe.

That left the door open for James.

Scotty James throws hands in the air after a run down the halfpipe in Livigno, Italy.Patrick Smith/Getty Images

But the Australian fell on the final hit of his first run, trying to land a double cork 1440 Japan. He stomped that same trick to end his second run, but thanks to a couple of sketchy landings, he finished with a score of 93.50. He likely went for the 1620 in an effort to leave the judges with little room for interpretation.

Ryusei Yamada won the bronze medal without throwing a single triple cork. His run ended with a backside double alley-oop rodeo 900. He stomped it in both his first and third runs and finished both with the exact same score, a 92.

Bronze medalist Ryusei Yamada congratulates Scotty James.Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

American Jake Pates finished in eighth place. He was the highest scoring member of the US team with a 77.50. Alessandro Barbieri finished in tenth place with a 75, and Chase Josey right behind him with a 70.25.

Reigning gold medalist Ayumu Hirano, who was battling injuries, finished in seventh place with an 85.50.

This article first appeared on SNOWBOARDER and was syndicated with permission.

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