US skier Alex Ferreira wins gold medal in men's free ski halfpipe to end Olympic career

Now he will head back home with his first-ever gold medal. 

Ferreira has made 16 World Cup podiums and won seven X Games medals. In 2023-24, he won every contest he entered and became the first halfpipe skier to have a perfect season.

Ferreira was nearly joined by Goepper on the podium, but Goepper's quest for a medal was halted after a harrowing crash, giving Mackay a chance to reach the podium.

Goepper finished fourth, and American Birk Irving finished fifth. 

Ferreira's gold medal was the 10th for the United States in the Milan Cortina Olympic Games, tying an American Winter Olympics record for most gold medals won. The United States won 10 gold medals in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympic Games.