LIVIGNO, Italy — In Livigno, Italy, Alex Ferreira experienced a significant realization regarding his career as he approached his late twenties, a phase in a competitive sport known for its limited timeframe for peak performance.
Despite securing a silver medal in his initial Olympic appearance, claiming World Cup and X Games championships, and establishing himself as both a digital content producer and a distinguished halfpipe skier, he felt unfulfilled.
He remarked, “I perceived that I wasn’t viewed as a true champion; I felt largely unnoticed. Whether this was accurate or not, it was my perception. My frustration with being underestimated professionally led me to adopt a much more rigorous and dedicated approach to my career.”
Following a personally unsatisfactory bronze finish in Beijing four years prior, Ferreira abandoned the typical lifestyle associated with freestyle skiers, instead embracing a discipline akin to a financial professional. He exchanged evening social events for an early 8 p.m. bedtime, maintained a flawless gym attendance record, and started preparing his own meals for travel. His existence narrowed to encompass only his sport, loved ones, and tight-knit companions, driven by the awareness of a single prestigious accomplishment absent from his record, with potentially only one more opportunity to attain it.
“Each morning, upon preparing for the day, I believe in my own excellence,” he stated. “However, an Olympic gold medal is truly what etches one’s name permanently into the annals of history.”
On Friday evening, his ambition was finally realized.
Executing a technically masterful and aesthetically pleasing final halfpipe performance—featuring three 1080-degree spins, two 1620-degree rotations, and an extensive array of aerial maneuvers—the 31-year-old Ferreira completed his run. He then dramatically swung his right ski pole like a lariat, celebrating as his score of 93.75 flashed, positioning him at the top.
This was precisely the routine Ferreira had intended to perform, and he executed it flawlessly. Nevertheless, three competitors remained, and in a sport where outcomes hinge entirely on judging, certainty is never assured.
Ferreira described it as “an agonizing ordeal. I detest it; I loathed every single moment,” he articulated.
Subsequently, Henry Sildaru, the 19-year-old Estonian, fell short by 0.75 points. Nick Goepper, the renowned American, a triple Olympic medalist in slopestyle, fell during his attempt to execute a daring final maneuver on the pipe’s edge. Lastly, Canadian Brendan Mackay delivered an impressive run that Ferreira was certain would surpass his own, but the display board ultimately showed Mackay in third position.
In an instant, he had achieved the status of Olympic champion. At long last.
“This experience is profoundly distinct,” he commented. “Nothing compares to winning gold.”
Upon understanding his ultimate triumph, Ferreira’s considerable group of at least twelve advocates erupted in joyous cheers and tears. His companions interlocked arms, gesturing in astonishment as he mounted the podium, the medal adorning his neck. His father, Marcelo Ferreira, an ex-professional soccer player from Argentina, jubilantly danced on the snow while the crowd chanted, “Ole, Ole, Ole.” They had collectively shared this pursuit, confident it would eventually yield success.
Alex Ferreira of Team United States celebrates winning the men’s freeski halfpipe. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
(Ian MacNicol via Getty Images)
Unexpectedly, the moment arrived—and it surpassed all their collective expectations.
Marcelo exclaimed, “My goodness, words fail me! He has now completed the entire journey. This signifies the most magnificent culmination of a true champion’s career.”
Ferreira enveloped himself in the American flag and approached a display screen, observing his family’s response precisely as he secured the gold medal. It was at this point that emotions overflowed.
His sister, Lourdes, remarked, “He simply aimed to utterly commit to it. Candidly, I believe he was less apprehensive than ever before, as he had a clear vision of his objective and what he desired to achieve.”
Ferreira might challenge that final assertion. Due to the intense anxiety he experienced upon waking, he labeled all pre-competition events as “the absolute worst day of my existence,” requiring ibuprofen to alleviate a severe headache.
Yet, observing him at the summit of the halfpipe preceding each attempt, one could discern him silently reiterating a mantra, affirming that this particular day would ultimately be his moment.
He recounted, “I continually affirmed to myself, ‘I embody greatness, and this is my destined time.’ I could sense it profoundly, deep within my being.”
Ferreira readily acknowledges the immense pressure he felt to achieve this goal, particularly as he entered his thirties. During the 2023-24 season, he triumphed in all seven Dew Tour competitions. Many, including Ferreira, pondered whether his peak performance had arrived prematurely. Even his mother, Colleen, would playfully suggest it was unfortunate the Olympic Games weren’t immediately approaching.
Gus Kenworthy, a veteran competitor against Ferreira who represents Great Britain, commented, “Such a dominant streak is highly unusual and not ideal to experience a couple of years prior to an Olympic event. It’s an inopportune time to reach one’s zenith. However, he performed exceptionally tonight. His routine is incredibly intricate, and he executed it flawlessly. I am genuinely overjoyed for him.”
The narrative of Friday could have unfolded in numerous alternative ways. Mackay was potentially just one perfectly executed landing on his second attempt from achieving an unbeatable score. Had Goepper successfully completed his concluding maneuver—a bid to be the first freeskier to earn medals in both slopestyle and halfpipe—he would likely have claimed the gold, leaving Ferreira to ponder extending his career for another quadrennial cycle.
Ferreira remarked, “[Goepper] possesses immense courage—truly astonishing. His decision to attempt such a feat at that critical juncture demonstrated profound bravery. He is a truly remarkable individual.”
Perhaps, however, everything transpired precisely as it was meant to. Following two Olympic campaigns marked by disappointment, succeeded by a period of moderate despondency, Ferreira diligently dedicated himself to transforming his personal life and professional path, all for a singular moment he could not be certain would ever materialize.
Being regarded as the top athlete who has yet to claim the ultimate championship in one’s discipline is one matter. It is an entirely different scenario to be granted a quadrennial opportunity to discard that distinction and witness the realization of all aspirations.
“This is a hundredfold superior to anything I ever envisioned,” he declared. “It represents the most magnificent occasion I have ever encountered in my existence. I am immeasurably thankful, and it simply underscores the importance of perseverance and unwavering self-belief.”
