There’s no doubt that Alex Ferreira has had one of the most enviable careers a skier could dream of. Despite his numerous trophies, however, one thing has always eluded him: an Olympic gold medal. This absence may weigh on him, as his career has otherwise been stellar. Last year, he won every single event in the Ski World Cup, ultimately taking home the Crystal Globe—an unprecedented achievement.

“The most dominant season in men’s halfpipe history… a feat that has never been achieved,” said the US team about his success. What made the victory even more special was that many fans had urged him to retire a year after his crash at the X Games. Yet, Ferreira’s determination kept him in the game, allowing him to make history. Now, he has his sights set on the one accomplishment still missing from his career: the Olympic gold medal. While the journey won’t be easy, he appears to have a plan in place—and to see it through, he’ll need the support of his fans.

Alex Ferreira wholeheartedly credits his success to those around him—his coaches, sponsors, ski technicians, physical therapists, family, friends, and others. Without their support, he says, he’d be nowhere. However, to finally capture Olympic gold, Alex feels he’ll need to expand his circle to include the fans who come to cheer him on. Still, there are certain resources Alex believes are necessary to achieve this goal—resources that the U.S. team currently seems unable to provide.

He hopes to bring on his long-time personal coach, renowned ski halfpipe coach Elana Chase, to help him pursue Olympic gold. He also plans to hire former ski halfpipe athlete Taylor Seaton as his technician and Vital Films to document his journey for fans to follow. Additionally, Alex envisions a way for fans to invest in his journey, creating a deeper connection and shared experience.

He needs all of this because he feels that these people were the ones who helped pave his way to victory in the Ski World Cup. “I’m realizing I’m going to need these people with me through this next Olympic cycle,” he said talking to VailDaily. “And this is going to cost me a lot of money, money that I don’t have,” he added. Alex also confessed that this is his last shot at bagging the gold medal, as he’s already 30 and his body won’t go on for much longer.

Alex Ferreira is encouraging fans to support his journey by donating, allowing him access to the resources needed to perform at his best. He has set up a donation page on Square.com, where contributions from $100 to $10,000 are welcome, giving fans a chance to join his campaign. This support could be instrumental in helping Ferreira pursue his Olympic gold medal dreams, especially given his status as one of the top athletes in the sport. Interestingly, his fundraising approach appears inspired by a successful athlete from a different sport.

Alex Ferreira is inspired heavily by soccer legend Lionel Messi

Alex Ferreira’s father was an Argentine soccer player called Marcelo Ferreira. Thus, Alex also has a deep connection with the sport. This is why he is heavily inspired by Argentine legend Lionel Messi. Alex wants to achieve the pinnacle of his sport, just like Messi did in soccer. The Inter Miami star has won everything that the sport has to offer. This includes eight Ballon d’Or awards and one FIFA World Cup. But it didn’t happen overnight for the player. He had to work very hard to reach the level he’s in right now.

Alex Ferreira has a poster of Lionel Messi in the gym where he works out. Under the photo of the player is a quote that drives on Alex every day. The quote from Messi says, “I start early, and I stay late. Day after day — year after year.” He added, “It took me 17 years and 144 days to become an overnight success.”

Thus, Alex knows that to achieve his Olympic dream, he must work very hard, as it won’t be easy. But the talent he possesses shows that he definitely has the potential to make it happen. While it is still early days for the 2026 Winter Olympics, Alex Ferreira will most probably be a very strong candidate for the gold.