Ben Lynch Finishes 8th in Freestyle Skiing at Milano Cortina 2026

BREAKING: Ben Lynch has just achieved a remarkable 8th place finish in the Finals of the Men’s Freestyle Skiing Halfpipe at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno. Competing on Friday night, Lynch posted an impressive score of 75.00 in his final run, marking a historic moment for Irish winter sports.

This performance is significant as it stands as one of the strongest Olympic results by an Irish athlete in winter sports history. In a thrilling competition, Alex Ferreira of the United States took home the gold medal with a score of 93.75. Ferreira completes his Olympic medal set after winning silver in 2018 and bronze in 2022. Henry Sildaru from Estonia secured silver with a score of 93.00, while Brendan Mackay of Canada captured bronze with a score of 91.00.

Reflecting on his achievement, Lynch expressed his joy: “I couldn’t be more happy. It feels really cool, especially because eight is my lucky number. My birthday is September 8th. The stars align.” He continued, “It definitely still feels surreal, but it’s sinking in a little bit. My last best result was 16, and now I’m here in 8th place.”

Lynch’s pivotal third run was critical to his success. “I was really nervous at the top. I felt very prepared, but obviously the nerves were on. My family’s here, everyone was watching, and I hadn’t landed my first two runs. I just tried to focus on the run, not worry about the result, and I landed it as good as I could,” he explained.

This performance not only highlights Lynch’s talent but also the growing presence of Irish athletes on the world stage. “Before this, I’d only gotten around the sixties in World Cups. It’s hard to get high scores at this level, but this is the best score I’ve ever gotten,” Lynch concluded, radiating excitement and pride.

As the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics continue, all eyes will be on Lynch and his future endeavors in the sport. Fans around the world are celebrating this momentous achievement, with many eager to share his inspiring story of perseverance and success.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Olympics unfold!