Golden debut for Kimura Kira in Olympic snowboard big air

Milano Cortina: Japan’s Kimura Kira produced a moment of magic under pressure to clinch gold on his Olympic debut in the men’s snowboard big air at the Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina.

The 21-year-old thrilled the crowd with a stunning third-run comeback, landing a massive switch backside 1980 spin to score 90.50, the highest single-run mark of the final. After leading early and crashing on his second attempt, Kimura showed remarkable composure to seal victory with a combined total of 179.50.

The triumph capped a memorable night for Japan, with reigning world champion Kimata Ryoma claiming silver to complete a dominant one-two finish. Defending Olympic champion Su Yiming of the People’s Republic of China settled for bronze after a fiercely contested final.

Kimura’s gold not only marked a dream Olympic debut but also underlined the rise of Japan as a major force in snowboard big air, as the Winter Games continue to deliver spectacular medal moments in Milano Cortina.

Source: Milano Cortina 2026