Winter Olympics 2026: Japan's Kira Kimura flies to gold in men's snowboard big air

Seventeen-year-old American Ollie Martin takes fourth.

Japan's Kira Kimura competes in the snowboard men's big air final run 3 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games at Livigno Snow Park, in Livigno (Valtellina), on February 7, 2026. (Photo by Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP via Getty Images)
Japan's Kira Kimura competes in the snowboard men's big air final run 3 during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. (Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP via Getty Images)
KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV via Getty Images

LIVIGNO, Italy — Japan’s Kira Kimura won the men’s snowboard big air gold medal on Saturday, dethroning defending champion Yu Siming of China who could not cleanly land his final run.

Siming’s score of 80.25 on an audacious trick was enough to edge out 17-year old American Ollie Martin for the bronze medal. Siming appeared to touch the ground on his landing, preventing him from a repeat gold medal.

Kimura vaulted into first place on his final run with a switch backside 1980 mute. He held on over his countryman Kimata Ryoma, who took silver.

Category: General Sports