Australian snowboarder Scotty James made history at the Winter Olympics, becoming the first Australian to win three Winter Olympic medals. However, he fell short of the gold medal, which had eluded him for so long, in a thrilling men's snowboard final. James was the hot favorite, but an early setback after falling during his first run set the tone for a challenging competition. Despite a spectacular comeback in his second run, his score of 93.50 was just not enough to surpass Japanese rival Yuto Totsuka's 95.00. James looked poised to secure the gold in his final run, but a missed trick left him dejected and shattered. The 31-year-old, already a legend in snowboarding, has won numerous titles, including the X Games and the World Championship. However, this Olympic gold had been a missing piece in his illustrious career, having previously won bronze in Pyeongchang and silver in Beijing. Ryusei Yamada took the bronze with a score of 92.00. Fellow Australian Guseli, who crashed in his first two runs, managed to score 88.00 in his final run, securing him a fifth-place finish. James, competing in his fifth Winter Olympics, is now the favorite to win gold at the Milan-Cortina Games. However, the field is deep and competitive, with countryman Valentino Guseli also in the running. James knows he'll need to bring his absolute best to win, as he believes this time it will be an amazing battle. James topped the halfpipe qualifiers, scoring an impressive 94.00 points in his first run. He executed a switch backside double cork 1440 Japan, showcasing his skill and talent. A group of four Japanese athletes, including reigning Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano, also qualified for the final. Hirano, who suffered a nasty crash last month, scored 85.50 in his second run, securing his place in seventh position. Japan's Yuto Totsuka (91.25) and teenage compatriot Ryusei Yamada also progressed, with the better of two runs counting. Guseli, who qualified sixth with 86.75, believes James will have to bring something truly special to beat him. James is now aiming to win Australia's second gold in Milan-Cortina, following Cooper Woods' remarkable victory in the men's moguls final. The final will begin at 5:30 AEDT on Sunday.
