Japan's Kimura Claims Snowboard Big Air Gold with Dramatic Final Run at Milano Cortina 2026

Japan's Kimura Kira captured snowboard big air gold at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Saturday, February 7, delivering when it mattered most with a spectacular final run to secure Japan's first snowboarding gold medal of these Games. The 21-year-old totaled 179.50 points after landing a massive switch backside 1980 spin worth 90.50 on his third and final jump, showcasing the perfect blend of technical difficulty and execution under immense pressure.

Kimura's path to gold was anything but straightforward, highlighting the dramatic nature of big air competition where athletes get three attempts and only their best two scores count toward the final tally. After leading the field with an impressive 89.00 on his opening run, disaster struck on his second attempt when he crashed, leaving everything riding on his final jump. With nerves of steel, Kimura stomped his third run to perfection, executing the switch backside 1980—one of snowboarding's most technically demanding tricks—with flawless precision.

The podium became a celebration of Japanese snowboarding excellence as Kimura's compatriot Kimata Ryoma claimed silver with 171.50 points, marking Japan's first-ever one-two finish in Olympic snowboard big air. The 20-year-old world champion delivered consistently throughout the final but couldn't match Kimura's heroics on the decisive third run. The Japanese duo's dominance at Milano Cortina signals the nation's emergence as a powerhouse in freestyle snowboarding, building on years of investment in winter sports development.

Defending Olympic champion Su Yiming of China rounded out the podium with bronze, scoring 168.50 points to become the first male athlete to win two Olympic medals in big air. The 21-year-old, who made history as the youngest Olympic snowboard big air champion at Beijing 2022 when he was just 17, demonstrated remarkable consistency in a sport where progression happens at breakneck speed. Su's podium finish, despite not defending his title, cements his status as one of the sport's all-time greats.

The men's big air final at Milano Cortina showcased the rapid evolution of snowboarding's newest Olympic discipline, first added to the Winter Games program at PyeongChang 2018. Athletes pushed boundaries with increasingly complex rotations and grab variations, with several competitors attempting tricks featuring four full rotations (1440 degrees and beyond). The competition format—three runs with two counting—creates nail-biting drama as athletes must balance risk and consistency, knowing one mistake can be overcome but two will end medal hopes.

Kimura's golden performance adds to Japan's impressive medal haul at Milano Cortina 2026 and reinforces the nation's winter sports credentials ahead of potentially hosting future Winter Olympics. The victory also validates Japan's long-term strategy of nurturing young talent in action sports, with significant resources dedicated to training facilities and coaching development. For Kimura, who had never won a major international title before these Games, Olympic gold represents the ultimate breakthrough on snowboarding's biggest stage.