Kimura clinches final-run gold for Japanese 1-2 in Big Air thriller

Kimura Kira nailed his final run to lead home team-mate Kimata Ryoma for a historic Japanese 1-2 in a thrilling men’s Big Air final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno.

Kimura scored 90.50pts for his switch backside 1980, which elevated him into top spot with Beijing 2022 champion Su Yiming (CHN) and Kimata still to go.

Su also delivered a switch backside 1980 on his final run, and although he touched a hand on his landing, it still earned him 80.25pts as the Chinese athlete moved into bronze medal position.

Kimata – who led after the second run - was the last man to drop in, but he washed out on the landing and took silver.

Kimura finished with 179.50pts, putting him eight points clear of Kimata (171.50pts), eleven points ahead of bronze medallist Su (168.50pts).

It was an outcome packed with history as Kimura and Kimata claimed Japan’s first medals in men’s Olympic Big Air, while Su became the first man to secure two top-three finishes.

U.S. rider Oliver Martin – at 17 the youngest rider in the field – finished fourth with 163.00 points, just ahead of home Italian favourite Ian Matteoli (162.50).

Kimura and Kimata’s Japanese teammate Hiroto Ogiwara, fresh off of a second-straight X-Games titles in Aspen two weeks ago, finished 12th after crashing out on all three jumps after finishing top of qualification.

Kimura came into the Milano Cortina 2026 Games on the back of two straight second-place finishes on the World Cup tour.

Kimura led after the first run after his backside 1980 melon was awarded 89.00, putting him 0.75 ahead of Su (88.25) with Kimata on 86.25.

However, he failed to land his second run to fall to fourth going into the final round where he held his nerve to seize the Olympic title with the highest-scoring jump of the competition.

Kimata was in the top three throughout the competition and led after the second run before Kimura’s high-scoring intervention forced his arm on the final jump.

While he added Olympic silver to his title from the 2025 World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland, there were some mixed emotions.

"Honestly, it's frustrating to have a Japanese rider above me, but I couldn't have done any better, and Kira was incredibly skilful."

After winning the title on home soil at Beijing 2022 and making history as the first Chinese snowboarder to win Olympic gold, Su endured an injury-affected 2024/2025.

His World Cup win at Secret Garden was his first in two years and he followed that up with victory in Beijing in December, leading to the first World Cup Crystal Globe win of his career.

He kept his composure to claim his third Olympic medal and second in Big Air.

"I'm just really proud of myself to deal with such a big pressure and still be able to land my tricks. Finally, I have every single colour of medal.

"I'm truly delighted to wear the national colours, standing here to secure our nation's first medal."

He added: "In the last four years I've been working really hard. It's not only about the result, it's like for myself, for my life. And then I've been trying so hard, I've been working so hard to get what I want.

"I believe that regardless of one's perceived age, or being called a youngster, one is also rather susceptible to pressure. So after this period, I've come to realise I must find joy for myself, I must celebrate this year, I must pursue my own dreams."