Canberra Snowboarder Seizes Olympic Opportunity with Dramatic Last-Minute Entry
In a stunning turn of events at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Canberra snowboarder Valentino Guseli has defied the odds to secure a place in the men's big air final. The 20-year-old athlete, who wasn't even part of the competition until hours before it began, delivered a clutch performance that has captured the attention of the sporting world.
A Surprise Call-Up Leads to Olympic Glory
Guseli received the unexpected news of his inclusion in the big air field just three hours before the qualifying round commenced. This opportunity arose following the late withdrawal of Canadian snowboarder Mark McMorris, a medal contender who suffered a heavy fall during training on Wednesday and was subsequently taken to hospital.
"I found out at 4pm today, and we started training at 6.15pm," Guseli revealed to Channel Nine. "I started shaking, I was shivering. I was like, 'Holy crap, this is about to happen'."
Nail-Biting Qualification Secures Final Berth
The young Australian needed his final jump to clinch a spot in Sunday's decider, which is scheduled to begin at 5.30am. With the pressure mounting, Guseli scored 91.50 on his third-and-final attempt at the Livigno snow park, earning equal second-best score of the qualifying round.
His combined total of 163.0 points saw him sneak into the 12-man final as the last qualifier. "It was a really nice night and it ended up working out," Guseli said. "To be going to finals in the big air in the Olympics is amazing, I'm stoked. It's one of the best moments of my life, for sure."
Overcoming Adversity to Reach Olympic Stage
Guseli's journey to the Olympics has been marked by significant challenges. The Canberra athlete had initially hoped to compete in three events in Italy – big air, slopestyle and halfpipe – but an ACL injury in late 2024 prevented him from qualifying for the first two disciplines.
Remarkably, Guseli's appearance in the big air made him the first Australian to compete at the Milano Cortina Olympics. As first reserve, he received the nod following McMorris's withdrawal, though he isn't guaranteed a start in slopestyle should the Canadian recover in time to compete.
International Competition and Future Prospects
The qualifying round saw strong performances from international competitors, with Hiroto Ogiwara leading a three-man Japanese contingent with a top score of 178.5 points. Ogiwara made history at the 2025 Aspen X Games by landing the first 2340-degree jump – six-and-a-half rotations – in competition.
Home favourite Ian Matteoli gave Italian fans reason to cheer with a second-place qualifying score of 174.5 points, while three New Zealanders – Lyon Farrell, Rocco Jamieson and Dane Menzies – also secured spots in the final.
Looking ahead, Guseli remains a strong medal contender in the halfpipe event, having already qualified for that competition. He previously won a World Cup event in Calgary and placed sixth at the Beijing Olympics, where he made his debut.
"Me and [my dad] went through hell to get here and then the universe miraculously gave us a start in big air, and we made it worthwhile," Guseli reflected. "It's everything that we wanted to do and we did it."
