Birk Ruud, a 25-year-old Norwegian skier, secured the Olympic gold medal in men's freestyle skiing park at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, solidifying his reputation as an elite athlete in the sport. He made an impressive debut with a score of 86.28 points during his first run, setting a challenging benchmark for his competitors. This performance eclipsed last year's Olympic gold medalist in the same discipline, American Alex Hall, who scored 85.75 points in the second run, while New Zealand’s Luca Harrington claimed bronze with 85.15 points.

Ruud had previously achieved Olympic glory in the Big Air event at the Beijing Games, but finished fifth in the park skiing finals there. His recent victories at the last two World Championships, held in Bakuriani and Engadin, have established him as a dominant figure in park skiing. His performance in the Milano Cortina Games not only demonstrates his consistent prowess but also builds anticipation for his future competitions and the further development of ski park as an exciting Olympic discipline.

Before the competition, another notable competitor, Sildaru, faced difficulties, finishing 16th after her first run and unfortunately falling in the second, underscoring the unpredictable nature of the sport where even top athletes can struggle. Overall, Ruud's victory adds to his growing legacy and cements Norway's prominence in winter sports as they continue to foster world-class talent in the skiing arena.