Sadowski-Synnott seeks to complete full set of Olympic Big Air medals

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (NZL) knows all about upgrades. And any improvement to her Big Air qualification runs at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 could take her to another tier yet again on Monday night at the Livigno Snow Park when the Women's Snowboard Big Air final takes place under the lights.

After bagging Big Air bronze at Pyeongchang 2018 and settling for silver at Beijing 2022, Sadowski-Synnott seeks gold when the final starts at 19:30 CET today.

The 24-year-old showed on Sunday that she is the woman to beat, topping the 29-strong qualification field with a combined total of 172.25 points.

Sadowski-Synnott stomped a switch backside 1260 mute grab on her first effort for 90.00 points, the night’s best single-run score. New Zealand’s flagbearer at these Games received identical scores of 82.25 points for her second and third jumps, landing a backside double cork 1080 each time, to become the top qualifier for the second straight Olympics.

Monday's final will again count the combined scores of the best two runs out of three.

A podium finish will make Sadowski-Synnott the most bemedaled women’s snowboarder in Olympic history with four medals.

Big competition

Upgrades might be necessary in the face of strong competition.

Japan swept the podium at the 2025 World Championships through gold medalist Kokomo Murase, silver medalist Reira Iwabuchi and bronze medalist Mari Fukada (JPN), who are all through to the final alongside compatriot Momo Suzuki (JPN).

Murase (JPN) led the quartet in qualification, finishing second with a total of 171.25 points on the strength of landing a frontside triple cork 1260 Indy grab on run one, before throwing down a backside double cork 1260 mute on run two.

“I'm thinking that in the final, I really want to land and put down the 14,” the 21-year-old told Japanese media.

"Last (Olympics), I was really frustrated with the bronze, so this time I want to win the gold and come back to Japan with a smile.”

Mia Brookes (GBR), the Big Air and Park & Pipe Overall Crystal Globe winner last season, recovered from a fall on her first run to qualify in third place.

She stomped the second-highest one-run score of 89.00 points with a backside 1260 melon grab then closed with a cab 1080 stalefish for 78.00 points and a 167.00 total.

Three-peat threat

Two-time defending Olympic champion Anna Gasser (AUT) qualified in ninth position on 159.50 points.

In the sport's 28-year history at the Olympics, no snowboarder has won three consecutive golds in the same event. But Gasser said she is not thinking about a three-peat.