Ukrainian freestyle skier Kateryna Kotsar has successfully qualified for the finals of the 2026 Winter Olympics in the big air event, despite facing challenges during the qualification rounds. Kotsar initially scored 155.50 points, placing sixth among the twelve qualifying spots, but slipped to tenth before her final attempt.
In her third and final jump, Kotsar attempted a more complex maneuver to secure her place in the finals. Although she was unable to land the jump successfully, only one competitor surpassed her score, allowing her to qualify with the eleventh-best result.
Following her performance, Kotsar spoke exclusively to Suspilne Sport, sharing her mixed emotions about the day. She revealed that her fiancé proposed to her after her third attempt, adding a personal milestone to her Olympic journey. Kotsar had expressed concerns about her physical condition leading up to the event but felt a surge of energy on the day of competition.
“It was an incredibly beautiful night filled with many events. I still can’t process everything that happened. Honestly, I was feeling terrible for the past couple of days, so I was very happy to wake up feeling energized and ready to compete. I thought that my biggest victory would be simply to perform well, and it seems like I succeeded,” she stated.
Kotsar explained that her decision to attempt a more difficult trick in her final jump was strategic, aimed at ensuring her qualification for the finals. She attempted the “Switch Left Double Cork 1260 Mute Grab,” a trick typically executed by top competitors, which can score over 85 points.
“I had doubts even after my second attempt, which is why I decided to make my third jump more challenging. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as planned. We will analyze the mistakes. It’s all good. Doubts can linger even when you’re in fifth place in the finals. At the moment of my third jump, I was in tenth, so it was indeed a bit stressful,” Kotsar explained.
“Will I attempt a more difficult trick in the finals? We’ll see. You know, I prepared extensively for the qualification, but they only saw fairly classic jumps from me, so I’m not making any predictions. Freestyle is an unpredictable sport,” she added.
Kotsar expressed admiration for the Olympic venue, humorously mentioning her desire to have a similar jump built near her home. She praised the snow conditions, which had been a concern due to ongoing snowfall on competition day.
Additionally, Kotsar took a moment to support fellow athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych, who was disqualified from the Olympics. After her third jump, she displayed a message on her glove reading “Freedom of Memory,” highlighting her solidarity with Heraskevych.
“Yes, the gesture was in support of Vladyslav Heraskevych and a condemnation of the International Olympic Committee’s decision regarding his disqualification. When I learned of Vladyslav’s disqualification, it deeply affected me. I wanted to do something meaningful, but eventually, I settled on this message, which felt harmonious and clear to me, right before my third attempt,” Kotsar remarked.
The finals for the women’s big air event featuring Kotsar are scheduled to take place on Monday, February 16, at 20:30 Kyiv time.
Kateryna Kotsar has advanced to the finals of the 2026 Winter Olympics in big air, overcoming challenges in her qualification rounds. Following her performance, she shared her emotions and a personal milestone, revealing her fiancé's proposal after her final jump.