USA’s Jake Canter shocks all to win bronze in slopestyle

LIVIGNO, Italy – A devastating trampoline accident as a teenager left United States men’s snowboarder Jake Canter without the ability to hear out of his right ear.

So say it loud and proud – Canter is an Olympic medalist.

Canter won bronze in the men’s slopestyle competition Wednesday at the 2026 Winter Olympics. He was in 10th after the first two runs but went all out for his third and final run of the day. He flipped an extra rotation off the last rail element, stomped his last two jumps and raised both arms in excitement as he went to the finish area. Awaiting his score, he made the sign for ‘prayer hands.” The shred gods delivered a nice number on his behalf — 79.36.China’s Su Yiming took gold and was by far the most consistent rider of the day. His best score was 82.41 on his first run. Taiga Hasegawa from Japan took silver with 82.13, also secured in his first run.

Team USA veteran Red Gerard placed sixth with a best score of 76.60. And 17-year-old Ollie Martin came in ninth with a 75.36.

After Canter won the Aspen World Cup slopestyle competition in January to make Team USA, he was overcome with emotion.

‘Just can’t believe this is happening … to be in this position I’m in, I’m so grateful, so thankful,’ he told USA TODAY Sports. ‘It really means the world. It’s everything I wanted.’