Chinese snowboarder Su Yiming made history on Wednesday by securing China's first gold medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, dominating the men's slopestyle event at Livigno Snow Park on his 22nd birthday.
The Beijing 2022 silver medalist delivered a near-flawless first run with 82.41 points, maintaining his lead through three rounds despite fierce competition. Japan's Taiga Hasegawa took silver (82.13 points), while American Jake Canter claimed bronze (79.36).
"This victory represents four years of relentless training since Beijing," Su told reporters after the win. His final run of 82.18 points showcased technical mastery, featuring 1800-degree spins and precision rail slides that drew cheers from the international crowd.
The triumph marks a significant milestone for China's winter sports program, coming exactly four years after Su's breakthrough performance at the 2022 Games. Analysts note his success could boost interest in snowboarding across Asia ahead of the 2030 Winter Olympics bid decisions.
