National

Aussie Snowboarder Guseli Reaches 2026 Olympic Big Air Final

Shivangi

Feb 6, 2026 3:54 PM IST

Category National

“

Synopsis

In a late twist at the Winter Olympics, Australian snowboarder Valentino Guseli has stormed off the sideline and into the men’s Snowboard Big Air final. The 20-year-old wasn’t sure she’d be able to ski at all, entering the competition as a “wildcard” replacement and pulling off a monster final jump to snatch the very last spot in Saturday’s medal round. Guseli’s upset chance was created after his idol fell and the young Aussie made no mistake with his second life, sticking a move so jaw-dropping that it left spectators gasping.

LIVIGNO – Valentine’s Day came early and it was roses for Australian snowboarding kingpin Valentino Guseli, who has one of the most romantic “comeback” stories going at these 2026 Winter Games. 24 hours ago, Guseli wasn’t even slated to compete in the Big Air. On Thursday night, he was the elite of the elite, as a low man on the finals totem pole.

It was a rollercoaster ride for Guseli to the final. He was only offered a place in the qualifying round at the last minute after a “freak accident” had struck down Canadian star Mark McMorris, who crashed heavily during training and had to pull out of the competition. Guséli had already secured his place in the Half Pipe and was the next person on the list to take her spot. How did a last-minute substitute trump the best in the world to make it to the final?

The ‘Send It to the Moon’ Moment

There are three jumps in the qualifying round and a competitor’s best two scores are added together. On his first two attempts, Guseli landed clean tricks but was left out of the top 12. He only had one shot left, and he needed to do something amazing to remain in the running.

On his last run, the 20-year-old decided to go for broke. He added a complete extra would-be rotation to his trick, executing a “switch backside 1980 tail grab”, around which he spun five-and-a-half times while holding onto the board. The judges dropped their jaws, giving him a huge score of 91.50. That jump advanced him to 12th place, giving him the last spot in the final on a tiebreaker.

A Bittersweet Opportunity

Guseli’s break came at the expense of Mark McMorris, a three-time Olympic medalist and one of the most influential names in the sport. McMorris took a rough fall during morning practice and was carted off to the hospital. The Canadian star is expected to recover and compete in other events later this week, but his withdrawal allowed Guseli’s entry.

Guseli is not unaccustomed to the big stage. During the last Winter Olympics in Beijing, he came 6th in Half Pipe. He is also the first man in history to win World Cup medals in all three snowboarding “park and pipe” disciplines during a single season. This “bonus” event affords him a rare opportunity, the second in Italy.

Risks of the Big Air

Big Air is considered one of the most perilous events in the Olympics. Athletes hurl themselves off a massive ramp, soaring several dozen feet into the air to complete intricate spins and flips before landing on a steep snowy incline.

Guseli knows the risks firsthand what happened in 2024 when he copped a knee injury at the same event that almost wrote off his career. Saturday night he will compete against 11 of the best riders in the world. And though she arrived as a wildcard with nothing to lose, the teenager from Down Under has quickly inserted herself into contention for an unheralded podium finish.

Key Highlights

• Valentino Guseli qualified for the Big Air final as a last-minute addition to the field.
• He hit a 1980 rotation (5.5 spins) on his last jump to clinch the final qualifying spot.
• The final will be held this Saturday night with Guseli competing for his first Olympic medal

---

Follow Inspirepreneur Magazine for the latest Australian breaking news.