• For the first time at the Beijing Olympics, medals are awarded in the freestyle skiing “Big Air” discipline, in which athletes have to perform various jumps with turns on both sides of the rotation, trying to collect the best points with the two best attempts. It is important that the elements performed in the jumps cannot be repeated. If this happens, the best of the same will be judged. The competition started with a qualification, determining the 12 best, which then started in the final competition. The sum of the best two attempts in the qualification was collected Birks Rūds from Norway, reaching 187.75 points, but the most stable performance was shown by Alexander Hall from the USA and Oliver Magnuson from Sweden.
• In the first round of the final jumps, five athletes were able to make high-quality jumps for at least 86 points. Evans Makekrans from Canada took the lead in the competition, who scored 93 points. Next up was the Italian Leonardo Donadzio, who also perfectly sat his jump, but received two points less. The Americans Max Forheds and Alexander Hallbut both ended their difficult combinations with a bad landing. Birks Rūds was the last to jump, who turned out to be the best in the race. No errors could be found in the jump execution, which ended with a light settling. Thus, 95.75 points were earned.
• In the second round of the jump, another Norwegian, Christian Numedal, competed, making the best jump of the round with 93 points. Hāl also took part in the fight, which was rated one point lower, while Rūdas continued to start steadily, receiving 92 points for his second jump and claiming gold together with 187.75 points. Climbed to second place Henrik Harlauts from Swedenwho scored 176 points in two jumps, but the Italian Donadio was in third place with 172 points.
• In the third series of jumps, there was a fierce battle for a place in the top three. Evans Makekrans and Alexander Hall remained one perfect jump away from the medal, but Leonardo Donajo was unable to improve his score. He was ready to take his opportunity Oliver Magnuson from Sweden, who made the sum of 178.25 points in the last jump, but his compatriot Harlaut made an even better jump, reaching 181 points. However, only bronze was enough, because another great leap passed To Columbia Stevenson of the United States, who finished the competition with 183 points and a silver medal. The last jump was irrelevant, as Birks Rūds became the Olympic champion with 187.75 points.
Beijing Olympics, freestyle, “Big Air” men
| Place | Athlete | The result |
| 1. | B.Rūds (NOR) | 187.75 |
| 2. | Stevenson (USA) | 183.00 |
| 3. | H.Harlauts (SWE) | 181.00 |
| 4. | O.Magnusons (SWE) | 178.25 |
| 5. | L.Donadžio (ITA) | 172.00 |
| 6. | H.Liso (ESP) | 171.50 |
| 7. | J.Tjaders (SWE) | 170.25 |
| 8. | A.Hāls (USA) | 160.75 |
Beijing Olympics, freestyle, medalists
| Date | Discipline | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05.02 | Mogul for men | V. Valberjs (SWE) | M.Kingsberijs (CAN) | I.Horishima (JPN) |
| 06.02 | Mogul for women | Enthony (AUS) | Dž.Kaufa (USA) | A.Smirnova (ROC) |
| 08.02 | Big Air for women | Gu (CHN) | Ledu (FRA) | Gremu (SUI) |
| 09.02 | Big Air for men | Rūds (NOR) | Stevenson (USA) | Harlauts (SWE) |
| 10.02 | Acrobatic jumping. com. | |||
| 14.02 | Sloupstails for women | |||
| 14.02 | Sloupstails for men | |||
| 14.02 | Acrobatic jumping. wife. | |||
| 16.02 | Acrobatics jump. man. | |||
| 17.02 | Scribble for women | |||
| 18.02 | Ramp for women | |||
| 18.02 | Skikross for men | |||
| 19.02 | Ramp for men |
Useful sites:
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Latvian Olympic team
Starts, results, live broadcasts
Overall rating of medals
