Olympic Preview: Aerials on the Road to Milano Cortina 2026

As we enter February, the 2025–26 FIS Freestyle World Cup season has delivered a clear message. Everything we have seen so far has been building toward the sport’s biggest stage, with the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games set to officially kick off this week.

Once every four years, freestyle skiing steps firmly into the global spotlight. Beyond the dedicated fan base, millions of viewers around the world will tune in to watch the best athletes on snow compete on the Olympic stage, showcasing the highest level of skill, precision, and spectacle the sport has to offer.

After successfully hosting the World Cup Finals last season, Livigno will once again take centre stage. The Carosello 3000 base station will host competitions in Aerials, Aerials Mixed Team, Moguls, and for the first time at the Olympic Games, Dual Moguls, marking a historic milestone for the discipline.

While the season has not been without its challenges, including a number of cancellations, the events that did take place delivered quality competition and clear storylines. Based on what we have seen so far, several key takeaways stand out as athletes prepare for Milano Cortina 2026.

The FIS Freestyle Aerials World Cup 2025–26 has officially concluded, making the Olympic Games the final and defining event of the season for the world’s top aerialists. If the World Cup campaign is any indication, the stage is set for an exceptional Olympic showdown.

One nation arrives in Livigno with undeniable momentum. China dominated the season from start to finish. Across six individual World Cup events, Chinese athletes claimed all six victories in both women’s and men’s competitions, while recording a remarkable 18 podium finishes. In the season’s only Aerials Mixed Team event in December, China secured first and second place, underlining the depth and strength of the squad.

That dominance was further reflected in the overall standings, where China swept the top three positions in the men’s rankings and finished first and second in the women’s standings. The blend of experienced champions and emerging talent has created one of the deepest aerials teams seen in recent years.

As the Olympic Games approach, two names stand out above all others. Xu Mengtao and Qi Guangpu are both preparing for their fifth Olympic appearance, arriving in Milano Cortina as the reigning Olympic champions in their respective events.

Xu Mengtao’s career needs little introduction. Widely regarded as the greatest aerials skier of all time, she has amassed 35 World Cup victories, more than any athlete in the history of the discipline, along with eight Crystal Globes, World Championship gold, and Olympic gold. At 35 years of age, Milano Cortina may represent her final Olympic appearance, yet her performances this season have shown she remains as consistent, composed, and technically impressive as ever.

Qi Guangpu, also 35, brings a similarly decorated résumé. Competing internationally since 2006, he has collected more than 20 World Cup wins, seven World Championship medals, and two Olympic medals. Known for his technical precision and reliability, Qi appeared to manage his workload during the season, often competing with lower difficulty jumps. However, with several athletes pushing five twist jumps this winter, all eyes will be on Qi to raise his difficulty level once again when it matters most.

China’s depth also makes the team a clear favourite for the Aerials Mixed Team event. While the final selection of two men and one woman remains to be confirmed, whichever combination takes the start in Livigno will be formidable. With athletes such as Sun Jiaxu, Li Tianma, Wang Xindi, Chen Meiting, and Kong Fanyu all part of the broader squad, China has both experience and depth at its disposal, making it one of the teams to beat.

That said, when it comes to the biggest stage, the United States enters the team event as the benchmark. The Americans are unbeaten in recent major championships, having claimed gold at the last two World Championships as well as at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. A key figure in all of those victories has been Christopher Lillis, who has been part of every U.S. gold medal performance in the mixed team format.

Alongside Lillis, Quinn Dehlinger brings experience and consistency, and earlier this season spoke openly about wanting to “bring a hurricane” to the Olympic Games. Together, they form a strong and well balanced core. The remaining question is who will complete the trio. The United States has two strong candidates in Winter Vinecki and Kaila Kuhn, both of whom have been landing high difficulty triple jumps this season. With Kuhn arriving as the reigning World Champion and Vinecki also pushing her limits, the individual results may well determine who earns the final team spot.

Australia will once again rely on the veteran duo of Laura Peel and Danielle Scott, two of the most influential figures in women’s aerials over the past decade. Both are multiple Crystal Globe winners and long-time role models within the sport. Peel has consistently pushed the progression of women’s aerials in recent seasons, at times standing alone as the only athlete successfully landing triple jumps in competition. Scott has taken a more measured approach, often competing double jumps, but has already indicated that returning to triples will be necessary to remain competitive at the Games. Notably, both athletes are still chasing their first Olympic medal, and motivation is clearly high.

Canada enters the team event with a very different profile compared to four years ago. In Beijing, they arrived as underdogs and left with a bronze medal. Since then, the squad has evolved. Lewis Irving, preparing for his third Olympic Games, brings experience, leadership, and deep passion for the discipline. On the women’s side, Marion Thénault has established herself as one of the strongest athletes on tour, while also being a prominent advocate for the sport. Canada’s strength is further boosted by a talented group of young aerialists emerging from the Quebec training program, including Émile Nadeau, Miha Fontaine, and Victor Primeau, all of whom are ready to make their mark on the Olympic stage.

Switzerland brings one of the most entertaining and reliable duos on the World Cup circuit in Noé Roth and Pirmin Werner. Gold and bronze medalists at the 2025 World Championships in St. Moritz, the pair has consistently delivered under pressure. Roth also holds the record for the highest score ever achieved in aerials, set on home snow in St. Moritz. Both athletes are known for their composure and clutch performances, making Switzerland a strong contender for podium positions.

Ukraine also arrives in Livigno with a promising squad. Dmytro Kotovskyi and Oleksandr Okipniuk were the only athletes this season to break Chinese dominance and claim a World Cup victory. Adding further strength is Anhelina Brykina, who introduced a triple flip to her repertoire this winter, significantly raising the team’s competitive ceiling. Together, they form a group capable of challenging for medals.

Finally, Hanna Huskova (AIN) remains one of the great unknowns heading into the Games. Limited competition appearances over the past season make it difficult to assess her current form, but her Olympic pedigree speaks for itself. Arriving in Livigno with gold and silver medals from the previous two Olympic Games, Huskova has repeatedly proven her ability to perform when it matters most.

With such depth, experience, and progression across nations, the aerials competitions in Livigno promise to be among the highlights of Milano Cortina 2026.

Aerials Schedule at Milano Cortina 2026

• Aerials Qualifications: 17 February

• Women’s Aerials Final: 18 February

• Men’s Aerials Final: 19 February

• Aerials Mixed Team Event: 21 February

With the Olympic Games approaching, the aerials competition in Livigno is shaping up to be one of the most closely contested events of Milano Cortina 2026. A combination of proven Olympic champions, experienced veterans, and a new generation of athletes pushing technical progression has created a highly competitive landscape. As athletes finalize their preparations, consistency, execution, and the ability to perform under pressure will be decisive. All signs point to an aerials competition defined by depth, precision, and high-level performances on the Olympic stage.