Il Nuovo Postiglione - Japan's Totsuka wins Olympic halfpipe thriller to deny James elusive gold

Totsuka, the 2021 world champion, scored a whopping 95.00 points in his second run of three at Livigno Snow Park to lay down a daunting marker.

James, who had fluffed his first run, was next to go and punched the air with his trademark red gloves but his score of 93.50 was only enough to lift him into the silver medal position.

Totsuka, 24, crashed on his final run, meaning it was do or die for James in the last run of the competition.

The Australian, who had topped qualifying earlier this week, adjusted his helmet and goggles before setting off.

He produced a stunning display that appeared likely to threaten Totsuka's score but agonisingly fell just before the end, burying his head in his hands in despair.

Japan's Ryusei Yamada (92.00) took bronze while his compatriot and defending champion Ayumu Hirano finished well outside the medals.

"I had to bring out my originality in all the different tricks that I did, " said Totsuka. "Doing a trick that no one else did was one of the things that determined it."

Australia's James, 31, who has been a dominant force in the sport over the past decade, made his Olympic debut as a 15-year-old at the 2010 Vancouver Games.

The four-time world champion took bronze at Pyeongchang 2018 and silver in Beijing four years ago and was desperate to go one better at the Milan-Cortina Winter Games.

James came to Italy in top form after winning his fifth consecutive X Games title last month, and eighth overall.

His silver in Italy makes him Australia's most-decorated athlete at a Winter Olympics.

An emotional James admitted he had been a "man on a mission" in Livigno.

"It was such a crazy final to be a part of," he said. "I obviously had an intention to put a bit of a better run together, but it became unstuck. But that's competition. I was really happy to be a part of it."

And he said he believed he was on the brink of Olympic glory before his tumble.

"The last run I went for a back 1620 on the last hit, and that would have been the run, I think, to do it (win gold). But unfortunately it didn't make it."

S.Maiolo--INP