China's First Gold at Milano-Cortina 2026: Su Yiming Takes Slopestyle Title

Su Yiming wins gold in men's slopestyle on 22nd birthday

China's Su Yiming takes home gold in men's slopestyle, beating Japan's Taiga Hasegawa and America's Jake Canter. Su Yiming wins men's slopestyle gold at 2026 Winter Olympics, scoring 82.41 points on his 22nd birthday.

Su had felt “crazy pressure” in the big air event as the defending champion...”

Su Yiming made his 22nd birthday unforgettable by winning China's first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Olympics in the men's snowboard slopestyle final. He topped the podium with a score of 82.41, beating Japan's Taiga Hasegawa (82.13) and America's Jake Canter (79.36).

This win marks Su's fourth Olympic medal, adding to his big air gold and slopestyle silver from Beijing 2022, and big air bronze from the current Games. What a birthday gift.

Su Yiming, the silver medalist from Beijing 2022, started strong with an impressive first run, scoring 82.41 under sunny skies in Livigno. He couldn't be caught, and his score stood the test of time. The Chinese rider was over the moon, ripping off his hat and clapping his hands in celebration. He even shed tears as his coaches and competitors came to congratulate him.

Jake Canter, who won bronze, yelled "Let's go" in excitement. Su's gold medal is China's first at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and he achieved this feat on his 22nd birthday.

The men's slopestyle contest was delayed by a day due to a snowstorm on Tuesday, but Su Yiming made the wait worthwhile. He won gold in the event on his 22nd birthday, adding to his bronze medal in the men's big air last week.

Su had felt “crazy pressure” in the big air event as the defending champion, but it didn't seem to affect him in the slopestyle final. He scored 82.41 points in his first run, securing the top spot and China's first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Olympics.

This win marks Su's fourth Olympic medal, adding to his big air gold and slopestyle silver from Beijing 2022, and big air bronze from the current Games. What a birthday gift.

🥇 SU Yiming holds on to his lead from his astonishing first run to take #Gold in the men's snowboard slopestyle 🤩

This is his second Olympic Gold medal after winning Big Air at Beijing 2022, making him the first snowboarder from the People's Republic of China to win two… pic.twitter.com/PbpWY5pxar

— The Olympic Games (@Olympics) February 18, 2026

Mark McMorris, the Canadian snowboarder with three Olympic slopestyle bronze medals, had a tough day, finishing eighth after crashing on two of his three runs. At 32, he's the oldest competitor in the field, and his struggles were likely impacted by a concussion he suffered at the start of his fourth Games, which forced him to skip the big air event.

McMorris's experience highlights the challenges athletes face in high-risk sports like snowboarding.