Why Google Doodle is celebrating Men’s Big Air Skiing at Winter Olympics 2026
All eyes are on Google doodle once again.
This time around, the tech giant is celebrating Men’s Freestyle Skiing Big Air at the Winter Olympics 2026 while fans wait for the final in Italy’s Livigno with bated breath.
The qualification round of the event took place on February 15, where 12 skiers booked their place in the summit showdown.
What makes this one of the most-watched events of the Games is big names, tight scores and, of course, Olympic pressure. The event also has X Games winners and emerging stars who set the stage for a fierce showdown.
Who are in the fray in the Olympic Games event?
With clean landings and high-difficulty risks, American skier Mac Forehand led the qualification round with an impressive top score of 183.00. He is closely followed by Austria’s Matej Svancer and Norway’s Birk Ruud, who is currently standing out in the ongoing Olympic campaign.
Norway qualifies as one of the strongest teams, with three athletes in contention, including Tormod Frostad and Ulrik Samnoey. France is also armed to the teeth with Matias Roche and Timothé Sivignon.
The excitement of the event is such that a single flawless jump can dramatically shift the medal race.
All eyes on Norway’s Birk Ruud
One of the biggest storylines surrounds Ruud’s pursuit of another Olympic title. The defending big air champion from the 2022 Winter Olympics Beijing, he has already claimed gold in men’s slopestyle at these Games. A victory in big air would establish him as one of the defining freestyle skiers of his generation.
Forehand seems to be full of confidence after dominating qualification and establishing himself as a reigning champion on the X Games circuit. His aggressive approach and execution make him one of the strongest contenders for gold.
Any notable setbacks in the summit showdown?
High-profile athletes such as Alex Hall and Andri Ragettli failed to qualify after costly crashes, underlining the extreme risk and unpredictability of big air competition.
As the final gets underway, fans can expect massive airtime, precise landings, and intense drama, with medals likely to be decided by the narrowest of margins.