Wang Xindi won gold in the men’s freestyle skiing aerials at the Winter Olympics, reinforcing China’s record in the discipline.
The 30 year old athlete secured his first Olympic podium after competing in three Winter Games. He succeeded his compatriot Qi Guangpu, a five time Olympian, who finished sixth in the final.
Wang achieved a score of 132.60 points out of a possible 150. Switzerland’s Noe Roth, the reigning world champion, took silver with 131.58 points. China’s Li Tianma, competing in his first Olympic Games, won bronze with 123.93 points.
The competition began with 24 athletes and was reduced to six finalists over three rounds of jumps. American skier Quinn Dehlinger withdrew during training due to injury, reducing the field by one competitor.
All four Chinese entrants progressed to the final, which took place in snowy and overcast conditions in Livigno during the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. They competed against Roth and Switzerland’s Pirmin Werner in the concluding round.
China has recorded consistent results in Olympic aerials events. At the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, the country won gold in both the men’s and women’s aerials and silver in the mixed team event. Earlier this week, Xu Mengtao defended her women’s aerials title at the current Games.
The mixed team aerials final is scheduled to take place on Saturday, the penultimate day of competition.
Freestyle skiing aerials has been included in the Winter Olympic programme since 1994. In this event, athletes descend a steep ramp before launching into the air to perform multiple acrobatic manoeuvres. Performances are evaluated on height, distance, execution, degree of difficulty and landing. Speeds can exceed 65 kilometres per hour during the approach.
Wang’s result adds to China’s medal record in freestyle skiing aerials and concludes the men’s individual competition at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.
