Australian snowboarding sensation Valentino Guseli has marked a significant personal milestone despite a tenth-place finish in the big air final at the Winter Olympics. The twenty-year-old athlete, who entered the competition as a late replacement, expressed pride in his performance and the joy he found on the slopes.
A Late Opportunity and Strong Performance
Guseli received a surprise call-up to the Livigno event just four hours before the qualification round, stepping in after a rival withdrew. He seized this chance, executing a flawless final jump in the qualifiers to secure a spot in the twelve-man final. During the final, Guseli impressed judges with his second run, earning the fourth-highest score, though he struggled to land subsequent jumps consistently.
Olympic Results and Competitors
In the final standings, Japanese snowboarders Kira Kimura and Ryoma Kimata claimed gold and silver, respectively, with China's Su Yiming taking bronze. For New Zealand, Dane Menzies led his team with a sixth-place finish, followed by Lyon Farrell in eighth and Rocco Jamieson in ninth.
Personal Triumphs Amidst Competition
Despite the competitive outcome, Guseli's focus was on his personal achievements. He highlighted successfully performing the trick that had previously caused his ACL injury, describing it as a massive win. Additionally, he attempted a backside 19 for the first time, coming close to landing it.
Guseli shared his perspective, saying, "I left it all out there and I have no regrets. I had a lot of personal wins today. I did the trick that I ruptured my ACL on since I did my ACL today, which is a massive personal win."
Joy and Future Prospects
Emphasizing the enjoyment of the experience, Guseli noted that having fun was his main victory. He also reflected on his unexpected path to the final, acknowledging the unusual circumstances of his qualification.
"I shouldn't have even been here. I can't really be too disappointed," he remarked. "I believe that I deserve to be up there but I obviously didn't qualify the normal way. Happy to ride."
Originally aiming to compete in big air, slopestyle, and halfpipe, Guseli's plans were disrupted by an ACL injury in late 2024. However, he remains optimistic about his upcoming halfpipe event, viewing it as another opportunity to shine on the Olympic stage.
Looking ahead, Guseli expressed excitement, "Very excited for halfpipe and very happy this isn't it for me. Lots of people only compete in one or two events so for me to have another one, I'm stoked for that."
