Kokomo Murase Clinches Snowboard Big Air Gold with Final Jump as Japan Extends Olympic Dominance

Japan's Kokomo Murase captured the women's snowboard big air gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Monday, February 9, landing her winning jump on her final run to extend Japan's remarkable snowboarding success. The 21-year-old world champion posted a combined winning score of 179.00, leapfrogging defending silver medallist Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand with her clutch performance under pressure.

Murase's victory represents a significant upgrade from her bronze medal finish at the Beijing 2022 Olympics, showcasing her growth as one of the sport's premier athletes. The Japanese star saved her best for last, delivering a massive final jump that secured her place atop the podium. Sadowski-Synnott, who won gold in big air at Beijing 2022, had to settle for silver this time around, while South Korean teenager Yu Seungeun claimed the bronze medal in her Olympic debut.

The gold medal adds to Japan's dominant snowboarding performance at these Milano Cortina Games. Just two days earlier, Murase's male teammates swept the top two positions in the men's big air event, demonstrating the depth and quality of Japan's snowboard program. The nation has established itself as a powerhouse in freestyle snowboarding events, with world-class coaching and training facilities producing Olympic champions across multiple disciplines.

Murase's journey to gold has been marked by consistency at the highest level of competition. As the reigning world champion in big air, she entered Milano Cortina as one of the favorites but still had to execute under Olympic pressure. Her ability to deliver when it mattered most, particularly on her final run, showcased the mental toughness that separates Olympic champions from the rest of the field.

The women's big air final featured some of the most progressive riding in Olympic history, with athletes pushing technical boundaries and landing increasingly difficult tricks. Murase's winning run included a combination of technical precision and amplitude that the judges rewarded with high scores. The level of competition forced all medalists to bring their absolute best performances, with minimal margin for error in the final standings.

This victory solidifies Murase's status as one of the faces of women's snowboarding heading into the future. At just 21 years old, she has already achieved world championship and Olympic gold, with potentially multiple Olympic cycles ahead of her. Her success, combined with Japan's overall snowboarding dominance at Milano Cortina, signals a shift in the global snowboarding landscape and establishes Japan as the nation to beat in freestyle snowboard events for years to come.