Olympic Champion Nico Porteous Retires From Competitive Freeski

Nico Porteous, New Zealand's most successful male freeski athlete and Olympic gold medalist, has decided to step away from competitive freeski halfpipe at age 23, just months before the 2026 Winter Olympics. Having achieved all his initial career goals, including Olympic, X Games, and World Cup titles, Porteous expressed that his competitive drive has waned, and he now skis primarily for enjoyment. He plans to explore new opportunities such as filming, equipment development, and other aspects of skiing outside of competition, as reflected in recent projects with his brother and media work. Porteous emphasized pride in representing New Zealand and is excited to support the next generation of freeskiers at Milan-Cortina 2026. While not officially retiring, his decision marks a significant career shift motivated by personal growth and a desire for fresh challenges. Despite stepping back from competition, he remains committed to skiing and pushing the sport's boundaries on his own terms.