We will not see Olympian David Wise on the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics, or competing as an athlete at all.
Due to a myriad of injuries and life events, he says he just fell short. But Wise will be in Italy later this week, supporting the athletes who qualified, and he says he hopes to announce a portion of his former event, the Men's Ski Halfpipe, during the games.
Wise says this does not necessarily signal his retirement from competing, but he will not pursue another Olympic run.
He hopes to have one more season in other competitions, as a farewell to an event that has ruled his life since he was a child.
He also plans to use this time to encourage and support the dreams of his wife and two children, who have been able to stand by his side as he fought for his medals, whether in the Olympics, the X Games, or the world championships for his sport.
He also says both of his kids hope to be professional athletes in their own right, and he's excited to see what's next for his family.
His absence from the games is notable, as one of the athletes who campaigned for the Men's Ski Halfpipe to be recognized at the Olympics.Â
Once it was, Wise was one of the first athletes to compete in it and was the first athlete to take home a gold medal in the event during the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.
However, he says his biggest accomplishment as an athlete was winning the gold medal in PyeongChang, South Korea, in 2018.
After crashing during his first two runs, he had an almost perfect third run, landing him in the number one spot. He accepted his medal with his kids in his arms while standing on the podium.
Click below to watch the full 17-minute-long interview between Alina Dangerfield and David Wise.
