Livigno, Italy, February 7, 2026: Japan’s Kira Kimura nailed his final run to lead teammate Ryoma Kimata for a historic Japanese 1-2 in the men’s snowboard Big Air final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Livigno on Saturday, February 7.
Kimura scored 90.50 points 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. 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 179.50 points, eight points clear of reigning world champion Kimata (171.50) and 11 points ahead of bronze medallist Su (168.50).
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.
“I've devoted a lot of time to snowboarding this year. My family, coach and everyone around me gave me tremendous support, so I'm truly delighted to have achieved this result and prove the doubters wrong,” said Kimura, 21.
*In other news on the first day of medal competition, Japan’s Nozomi Maruyama took bronze in the women’s Normal Hill HS107 ski jump with a score of 261.8. Norway’s Anna Odine Stroem won gold with 267.3, ahead of Nika Prevc (Slovenia) on 266.2.