Freestyle Skiing at 2026 Winter Olympics – China vs USA Betting prediction

Match info

The mixed team aerials final is one of the most exciting and strategic freestyle skiing events at the Winter Olympics: three skiers per team (at least one woman), each launching a single jump, with the combined scores determining the medals. It’s a true showcase of individual skill and collective consistency, where precision meets calculation under pressure.

Mixed team aerials combine individual flair with team strategy. Every jump counts—the lowest score can sink a team just as fast as a missed landing. Since its Olympic debut in Beijing 2022, where the U.S. captured gold, this format has quickly become a highlight for freestyle skiing fans and pundits alike. It rewards depth across athletes, high technical execution, and clutch performance under pressure.

For insight into how bookmakers view medal contenders in events like this, visit https://bookmaker-expert.com/bookmakers/sports-betting/olympic/ for odd trends and analysis.

When:
Saturday, February 21, 2026, at approximately 10:45 local time (CET — Central European Time). Officials schedule the final round of competition in the morning session to wrap up freestyle aerials with a dramatic team showdown.

Where:
The contest takes place at the Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park within Livigno Snow Park in Livigno, Italy, a purpose-built freestyle skiing venue in the Alps known for reliable snow conditions and steep, technical jump lines that expose even subtle mistakes.

Meeting statistics

Current form & playstyle: China
Team China enters as the primary favorite, having shown remarkable dominance on the World Cup circuit this season. In late December, a Chinese squad composed of elite aerialists, including Xu Mengtao, Li Tianma, and Qi Guangpu, swept the mixed team podium with a combined score above 315 points, finishing comfortably ahead of their closest rivals.

Their style blends consistent flight precision with controlled, reliable landings—crucial in the mixed team format, where a single subpar jump can significantly damage the overall total. China’s balanced lineup and depth of experience make them the team to beat, especially in an Olympic environment where risk management often outweighs pure difficulty.

Current form & playstyle: USA
The United States sit just behind China among the leading medal favorites and bring strong championship credentials. Team USA features proven stars such as Kaila Kuhn, Quinn Dehlinger, and Chris Lillis—the same trio that captured the mixed team title at the 2025 Freestyle World Championships.

Their approach emphasizes high-quality, trouble-safe jumps that score well without pushing execution risk into dangerous territory. Consistency under pressure is a major strength, and their Olympic pedigree further boosts confidence: the U.S. claimed gold in the mixed team aerials at Beijing 2022, reinforcing their reputation as a clutch performer on the biggest stage.

Note: Ukraine
Ukraine should not be overlooked. At the 2025 FIS Freestyle World Championships, they finished second in the mixed team aerial final behind the U.S., showcasing both technical quality and competitive nerve in a high-pressure final. Their athletes are capable of delivering high-scoring jumps with minimal error and often improve through elimination rounds—making them especially dangerous if favorites falter even slightly.

Head-to-head outlook
Across the recent season, China’s strongest mixed team has consistently produced higher combined scores than most rivals on the World Cup circuit. The U.S. remains close but typically trails slightly in raw execution margins and jump-to-jump consistency. Ukraine can match both powers at their best, though their scores tend to show greater variability, which makes them exciting but less favored on paper.

At major events, China often edges the U.S. by managing risk more cleanly across all three jumps, while the U.S. has historically excelled at championship settings, including recent World and Olympic successes. Ukraine’s world championship podium underlines just how narrow the gaps are at the top level, where tiny differences in execution can ultimately decide medal positions.

Match analytics

Team China will likely have a narrow edge for gold, especially if they nail three consistent jumps with high landing scores. The U.S. is the most likely challenger; its mix of difficulty and execution often thrives in finals, where nerves spike, and competitors miss landings. Ukraine, as the dark horse, has genuine medal potential if their top athletes deliver stable high scores and other teams falter.

Tip: Who Will Win: China. Check Betandyou for odds.

Note: For now, there are no odds for mixed team aerials at Milano Cortina 2026.