'What a joke': Olympics commentators rage over halfpipe 'travesty'
The Winter Olympics community has been left shellshocked after Japanese star Ayumu Hirano landed a never-before-seen trick in an amazing halfpipe run only to be awarded a 91.75.
In the finals of the Beijing Winter Olympics halfpipe, Hirano became the first man ever to land a triple cork in a run that was described as arguably the greatest ever.
WOW: Winter Olympics official hits back at ugly 'corruption' allegation
'SOUR GRAPES': China's fury over 'shameful' Eileen Gu drama
'SO CREEPY': China accused of shock act amid Eileen Gu triumph
However, the Japanese star would have been thinking what more he could have done after scoring a 91.75.
This landed him in second place, behind Australian Scotty James.
The NBC commentators were expecting a monster score for Hirano, but reacted with utter shock when it was revealed.
"Ahhhhhh what?" one commentator said.
"What? Is there a mistake. There is no way."
Another commentator asked: "Can you explain that to me?"
“The judges grenaded all creditably” is an incredible turn of phrase. My man is pissed. pic.twitter.com/gNDyrLg1gW
— Hemal Jhaveri (@hemjhaveri) February 11, 2022
The other commentator replied: "As far as I am concerned, the judges have grenaded all their credibility."
"It's unbelievable that this is even happening. This is a travesty. I am irate right now."
The response was swift and irate as many fans claimed Hirano had been 'robbed'.
So Ayumu Hirano lays down a never before seen trick in a perfect run and somehow checks in with a second place score in men's halfpipe?
The math ain't mathing.— Andrew G. Haubner (@A_G_Haubner) February 11, 2022
How on earth was that a 91.75??? #Halfpipe #Olympics
— Nathan Santo Domingo (@NSDwx) February 11, 2022
Olympics is rigged. I am so mad. Hirano with greatest halfpipe run of all time and he gets 2nd
— Brent Urban (@urbanlegend96) February 11, 2022
Analyst just thought Ayumo Hirano threw down the greatest halfpipe run ever (“we may never see something like this again”) … and he isn’t even in first. Weird stuff happening on NBC
— Kendall Baker (@kendallbaker) February 11, 2022
I know nothing about halfpipe scoring and that score for Hirano still feels extremely stupid to me.
— Meg Linehan (@itsmeglinehan) February 11, 2022
Did we all just miss something in the Snowboard Halfpipe? Ayumu’s run was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in the halfpipe https://t.co/sp7BOd8Ydz
— Mike Douglas (@MikeDski) February 11, 2022
I call shenanigans. That was the best halfpipe run in history. #ayumuhirano
— Brad Rice, BA in Wordle History (@BolandDrummer) February 11, 2022
Ayumu Hirano might be the new king on the halfpipe. Judges robbed him on the top spot after run 2. That was awesome.
— E.J. Luna (@EJ1una) February 11, 2022
Ayumu Hirano just had the most insane halfpipe run of all time and the judges gave him a 91? What is going on #menshalfpipe
— Collin Pitstick (@PitstickCollin) February 11, 2022
I’m sorry, I’m a big Shaun White fan but Hirano just got robbed. Wtf 😳 #OlympicGames #hirano #halfpipe #robbed #olympicjudges
— Miguel Gonzalez (@GonzaldzMiguel) February 11, 2022
Ayumu Hirano just got robbed. He literally just landed the best halfpipe run in the history of ever
— 420psycho (@evilcollin) February 11, 2022
Ayumu Hirano got absolutely fleeced. That was such a huge half pipe run. Judges need to deliberate and change that score. A supervisor or someone has to come to attention #WinterOlympics #halfpipe
— iamIanB (@ian_Rager) February 11, 2022
Ayumu Hirano ONLY GOT AN 89 from the United States Judge.
He was ROBBED. And the United States just disgraced itself.
He did the most technically sound perfect run so far.
Nothing he did earned a 89!
What a joke#Olympics #halfpipe— Chrissi Nielsen (@NielsenChrissi) February 11, 2022
Ayumu Hirano wins gold as Scotty James wins silver
James unfortunately stumbled on his third run and held out with a score of 92.50.
However, in what many may say is justice for his historic run earlier, Hirano produced a near flawless third run and took the gold medal with a whopping score of 96.
Switzerland's Jan Scherrer finished in third.
James' silver medal goes with his bronze medal from the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang 2018.
Australian teen Valentino Guseli finished in sixth after being the only finalist to complete all three runs.
Legendary snowboarder Shaun White finished fifth in his final Olympics.
Click here to sign up to our newsletter for all the latest and breaking stories from Australia and around the world.
