Harrington Advances to Halfpipe Final Amid Melville Ives’ Injury

Ben Harrington has secured his place in the men’s freeski halfpipe final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics following an intense second run. The event, held in Italy, saw several competitors struggle, with three out of four New Zealand athletes losing a ski during their attempts. Only the top twelve performers from a field of twenty-five progressed to the final, making each run crucial.

Harrington led the New Zealand team after delivering a solid first run that positioned him in 9th place. However, during his second run, he fell to 12th, resulting in a tense wait as the remaining competitors completed their runs. “Making it to the finals was an insane feeling,” the 24-year-old said. “My biggest goal was just to come out and land some runs. I had knee surgery just over a year ago, so it was a mission to get back here, but we did it.”

In a heartfelt moment, Harrington dedicated his second run to teammate Fin Melville Ives, who sustained a serious injury after a fall. Melville Ives was the first competitor to drop into the halfpipe but lost a ski in both runs, ultimately finishing in 24th place. He was stretchered off the snow after the second fall, prompting concern from the team.

Tom Willmott, the head coach of the New Zealand Olympic Team, provided an update on Melville Ives’ condition, stating he was “stable and positive.” The 19-year-old athlete was reportedly knocked unconscious during the fall. “He took a big hit,” Willmott noted. “He’s in great care; our team doctor is with him, and his mum’s with him. He’s doing okay, he’s conscious right now, and he’s talking.”

While Harrington advanced, fellow Kiwis Gustav Legnavsky and Luke Harrold faced disappointment as neither qualified for the finals. Legnavsky ranked 14th, while Harrold placed 15th after initially showing promise. Harrold, who was in contention after his first run placed him 11th, lost a ski in his second attempt. “It was a tough day out there,” he said. “Training went well, but unfortunately, I couldn’t put down the run I wanted. I just want to say thanks to everyone who supported me through my whole journey.”

Legnavsky also expressed disappointment, stating, “I’m pretty bummed… I have more, I know I have more.” The event requires competitors to perform a series of tricks while skiing down a semi-cylindrical slope, and the final is scheduled for 7:30 AM on February 21, 2026 (NZT).

New Zealand’s freeskiing hopes have been buoyed by past successes, including Nico Porteous, who won gold in the same event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. This year’s games have already seen New Zealand secure three medals. On February 15, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott became the world’s most decorated Olympic snowboarder with her silver in the women’s snowboard slopestyle event. Additionally, Luca Harrington earned bronze in men’s freestyle skiing slopestyle last week, further contributing to New Zealand’s medal tally.