American Jake Canter takes home bronze medal in men’s Olympic style snowboarding

American Jake Canter had to wait what probably seemed like a millennium to see if he would finish on the podium in the men’s snowboard slopestyle event at the Winter Olympics on Wednesday.

Canter was third after scoring 79.36 in his final race of the competition. But he still had to wait for Canada’s Mark McMorris, Norway’s Marcus Kleveland and New Zealand’s Dane Menzies to complete their races before he could celebrate.

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Jake Canter waits for his score during the men’s snowboard slopestyle finals at the Olympic Winter Games in Livigno, Italy, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

From the base of the hill, Canter watched as McMorris crashed hard to the ground on his final jump. Kleveland had an excellent final run but only scored 78.86. Menzies was the last snowboarder out and crashed, lying on the ground in disbelief.

Canter finally celebrated when he found out he had won the bronze medal.

China’s Su Yiming won the gold medal and Taiga Hasegawa the silver.

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Jake Canter reacts during the men’s snowboard slopestyle finals at the Olympic Winter Games, Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

It is Canter’s first Olympic medal in his first appearance at a Winter Olympics. He was able to represent Team USA on the world stage after winning a World Cup competition in Aspen, Colorado, during the 2025-26 season. In that event, he bested Su and Menzies.

The World Cup season will resume in March when events move to Flachau, Austria, and Sivapalan, Switzerland.

United States bronze medalist Jake Canter holds his medal after the men’s snowboard slopestyle final at the Winter Olympics on February 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

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The United States last stood on the podium at the Olympics in 2018, when Red Gerard took home gold. Gerard finished in sixth place on Wednesday.

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