Namita Nayyar:
You made history at X Games by becoming the first woman to land a triple cork in skiing or snowboarding. Take us inside that moment. Was there fear, or was it just pure focus?
Megan Oldham:
Landing the first ever triple cork was a whirlwind of emotions for me. In the moments leading up to the trick I was incredibly focused. It felt like I entered a flow state where the rest of the noise around me just disappeared and I was alone in my mind. Pure silence and just locked into the jump in-front of me, visualizing on repeat. After I landed the triple I mainly felt relief.
Relief that all my hard work paid off. Relief that I didn’t get hurt and relief that I didn’t let myself down. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my chest because it was something I worked so hard at and wanted so badly. I had such deep-rooted fear of failure and injury. I was so proud of myself in that moment for pushing through.
Namita Nayyar:
Fast forward to February 16, 2026—you’re an Olympic Gold Medalist in Big Air and a Bronze Medalist in Slopestyle. What was going through your mind when you saw the score (180.75) and realized you had won gold?
Megan Oldham:
I was in pure shock dropping in for my last run knowing that I won Gold. I think I was trying to process the moment but couldn’t. When you dream about something for so long and want it so badly, it felt hard for my brain to connect the real moment with what I had dreamed in my head. I remember my coaches giving me a hug and saying “You are the Olympic Champion” and I felt like my eyes just went wide in disbelief. I looked out on the crowd below and smiled. I took a deep breath and tried my best to soak it in even though it wasn’t feeling real.
Namita Nayyar:
With a resume that includes Olympic Gold, X Games Gold, and a Crystal Globe, how do you define success now compared to how you defined it when you started?
Megan Oldham:
I would say I define success by showing up for myself and battling through the struggles. At the start of my career I definitely defined my success by how many events I won but I’ve learned sport is much more complicated than that. Skiing is a cruel sport that comes with a lot of injuries and adversity. Some of my biggest struggles have been mental battles with fear. Learning to work through those mental traumas and continue to progress is the biggest success in my mind. The event titles are just a cherry on top after all the battles to get there.
Namita Nayyar:
Freestyle skiing demands a unique combination of explosive power, endurance, and aerial awareness. What does a typical week of training look like for you during the off-season versus the competitive season?
Megan Oldham:
In the off season we do a lot of intense strength training and explosive power work to bulk up before the season. Typically, 3-4 sessions per week this consists of 2 hour long workouts. When we are on the road mid-season it’s more difficult to stay in the gym and maintain energy for skiing so we tend to do more recovery focused exercises. More core, stability, and balance work. Daily stretching and typically 1 or 2 strength program workouts per week.
Namita Nayyar:
Landing tricks like a triple cork puts immense strain on the body. What are your “non-negotiable” exercises for protecting your knees and core?
Megan Oldham:
Haha this is so honest and real. Knee injuries are a big risk in our sport for sure, especially given the amount of impact and twisting motions we experience. My trainer builds a great program for me who features a lot of quad, hamstring, calf, and glute exercises. I would say my non-negotiable exercise is leg extensions. I always find this exercise gets my muscles firing.
I love doing it even part of warm ups because it gets my legs ready to engage quickly and effectively for impact. I am also a big fan of Tibialis raises. They are often overlooked but I find super effective in preserving my knee health.
Namita Nayyar:
How much of your training is spent on trampolines or water ramps versus actual snow? How do you balance the need for repetition with the risk of injury?
Megan Oldham:
Most of my training is on snow. I would say about 80%. We never train on water ramps however airbags are a big tool for us. I spend part of my summer training that way which is about 15%. As for trampoline, its maybe 5% of my training. Injury management is the biggest part of our sport so I will always prioritize health over excessive training.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
