Birk Ruud of Norway celebrates during the freestyle skiing men's freeski big air final at Big Air Shougang in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2022. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang)
BEIJING, Feb. 9 (Xinhua) -- Birk Ruud of Norway claimed the gold medal in the men's freeski big air of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games at Big Air Shougang on Wednesday.
Colby Stevenson of the United States and Henrik Harlaut of Sweden took the silver and bronze, respectively.
In the first run, Ruud who led the qualification went last but scored a race-high 95.75 points with a comfortable switch left-side triple cork 1980 mute trick.
"It was my first time doing it here for the Olympics," said Ruud at the press conference. "I was injured nine weeks ago and had to stay out for a little bit. I have done the trick many times in here (points to head) but it was the first time doing it ever here at the Olympics, so I am happy."
His main competitor, Alex Hall of the United States failed to give his best and ranked only seventh with 68.25 points.
In the second run, Ruud stomped a left-side double cork bio 1800 mute to receive another 92 points, which added up to a score high enough for him to secure the gold medal before the final run.
Harlaut, who only placed 24th in the FIS seeding of the event, became a dark horse with jumps of 86.00 and 90.00 points respectively to sit second.
Stevenson did the same jump as his first, a nose butter triple cork 1620, which he had never done before the race, and improved his score with a much cleaner run to receive 91.75.
In the final run, With a 92-point-move in his second run, Hall had to give it a shot and went for a full 2160 rotation - the most difficult trick in the men's big air, but only got 27.00 points due to an incomplete finish, which put him eighth of the event.
Stevenson sent in a switch double cork 1800 to pocket the silver with 183.00 points.
Harlaut, who was fourth before the run also improved on his first jump to edge his compatriot and reigning world champion Oliwer Magnusson for a podium finish.
"It's incredible. The snow has been so good, the conditions have been what we dream of. It's gone so well," said Harlaut.
"It's just an honor to be competing against the new generation. They are all styling super hard and skiing the way I like to see skiing," he commented on being the oldest man in the competition.
In his victory lap, Ruud had a national flag in his hand and finished the race in style.
"I feel amazing. This is crazy. I am very, very happy. I am proud and a little emotional. It's really great," said the Norwegian.
"I had my coach there with the flag. It was crazy. I was still focused though because I had to do my tricks. It was amazing though, I was just in the moment and the opportunity to carry that good feeling with me," he added.
With the gold medal in hand, Ruud became the second freestyle skier to win a gold medal at both the Youth Olympic Winter Games and the Olympic Winter Games, after China's Gu Ailing. ■
