Ben Lynch Makes History: Ireland’s First Winter Olympics Skiing Finalist
Livigno, Italy – February 20, 2026 – Ireland’s Ben Lynch has etched his name into the history books, becoming the first Irish skier to qualify for a final at the Winter Olympics. The 23-year-old Dublin-born athlete advanced from the men’s halfpipe event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, currently underway at Livigno Snow Park in Valtellina.
From Qualifying Anxieties to Historic Qualification
Lynch’s journey to the final wasn’t without its challenges. Originally scheduled to compete on Thursday, the event was postponed due to adverse weather conditions and snowfall. After a first-run score of 57, Lynch improved dramatically with a second run of 75.75, securing his 11th-place overall finish and a spot among the top 12 who progressed to tonight’s final.
A Journey Rooted in Two Continents
Born in Rathmines, Dublin, Lynch moved to Vancouver, Canada, at the age of two. He now trains in Calgary under coach Rex Thomas. He initially competed in slopestyle and big air before focusing on halfpipe at age 19. Lynch transferred to represent Ireland in 2024 after spending time on the Canadian development pathway. He regularly competes on the FIS World Cup circuit, achieving a 23rd-place finish at the Calgary World Cup in January 2025. olympics.ie
Lynch’s Reaction and the Final Ahead
“I’m feeling unbelievable, I’m so excited, really grateful to be here and to make the final is the cherry on top,” Lynch stated after securing his place in the final. “In my first run, I landed perfectly. I went for the right 12 in my second run which I hadn’t done in training, so it was the first time for me today. To land that in my run was unbelievable. I skied better than I ever have today. I’m officially an Olympian and officially a finalist which is just mind-blowing.” RTÉ Sport
A Difficult Day for All Competitors
The qualification round wasn’t without its setbacks. New Zealand’s Fin Melville Ives, the current halfpipe world champion, suffered a crash and was forced to withdraw from the competition after falling on both runs. He is reported to be conscious and undergoing assessment, including an X-ray. RTÉ Sport
What’s Next?
The men’s halfpipe final is scheduled to begin at 6:25 PM local time and will be broadcast live on RTÉ Player. RTÉ Sport Lynch’s achievement marks a significant milestone for Irish winter sports and has generated excitement among fans back home. Irish Examiner
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