Canada’s Mark McMorris fell a bit short in his quest to reach the Olympic podium for the fourth consecutive time in men’s snowboard slopestyle.
The Regina-born snowboard trail-blazer finished eighth in the 12-man final on Wednesday, two spots ahead of fellow Canadian Cameron Spalding at Milano Cortina 2026.
McMorris fell in two of three attempts.
McMorris, 32, suffered a concussion, bone bruising near his pelvis and an abdominal strain in the crash during big-air training on Feb. 4, and then dropped out of the Olympic big-air competition.
The 25-time Winter X Games medallist was cleared to compete in slopestyle last week and finished third in qualifying.
“I’m proud of the way I prepared. I’m proud I made it to a fourth Olympic final. I’m proud I made it back on the hill after what I went through (earlier in the Olympics),” McMorris told CBC Olympics. “I really appreciate all the support from Canada. I wish I could have had a better showing, but that’s the way sports goes sometimes.”
The 20-year-old Spalding, from Havelock, Ont., was the 2024-25 World Cup champion for men’s slopestyle.
Su Yiming of China won gold on his 22nd birthday after taking silver in the event at the 2022 Olympics.
Japan’s Taiga Hasegawa earned silver, while Jake Canter of the U.S. grabbed bronze.
New Zealand’s Dane Menzies, who was born and raised in Alberta, finished seventh after being the top qualifier.
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