Errors in the first modules deprived Canadian freestyle skier Max Moffatt of an Olympic medal on Tuesday evening in slope style.
Posted at 10:10 p.m.
Moffatt, in his first Olympic final, had three runs to show the judges what he can do. Only the best of the three counted in the standings.
On his first pass, the Ontarian went on a more complex descent than the one he had done the day before, during qualifying. He made a mistake on the second rail, however, then fell on the landing of his last jump, and therefore only earned 47.18 points. He was pointing at 7and rank after the first round.
Already at that time, the best result was 90.01 points, the result of the work of the American Alexander Hall. This was also the score to beat throughout the final. Scoop: nobody got there.
Moffatt’s second run was much better than the first, but an early fault cost him dearly in points. The judges gave him a score of 65.31, which made him slip into 8and position.
To hope to get on the podium, which would have been his first at the Olympics, the Canadian had to deliver the best performance of his life. But as during his first two descents, he experienced difficulties on the first modules. Despite good jumps, he had to settle for a score of 70.40 points, good for 9and rank. The 23-year-old put his hands on his head in disappointment as he reached the bottom of the track.
Hall, who had finished 16and in PyeongChang, therefore won his first Olympic title. The American Nicholas Goepper (86.48 points) took the silver, while the Swedish Jesper Tjäder (85.35 points) inherited the bronze.
Moffatt was the only Canadian in the final. The other three, Édouard Therriault (13and), Evan McEachran (24and) and Teal Harle (26and), did not qualify.