Four years after claiming bronze in Beijing, Japan’s Kokomo Murase has climbed to the top of the Olympic world.
In a high-stakes final under the lights at Livigno Snow Park, the 21-year-old snowboarder delivered a masterclass in aerial control, stomping two massive runs to capture the gold medal in Women’s Big Air with a combined score of 179.00.
The Winning Performance
Murase, who had already established herself as a favorite after a dominant World Cup season, wasted no time putting pressure on the field. She opened her night with a spectacular backside triple cork 1440 mute grab, earning a massive 89.75—the highest single trick score of the night.
She sealed the victory on her third and final run, landing a clean frontside 1440 to overtake her rivals and secure Japan’s first snowboarding gold of the 2026 Games.
"I wasn't sure I would make it onto the podium until I landed that third run," Murase told reporters. "When I did, the emotions flooded over me."
The Podium Battle
New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, the defending silver medalist and top qualifier, once again finished in the silver medal position with a score of 172.25. Sadowski-Synnott led the field after the qualification round but couldn't quite match the technical difficulty of Murase's landing in the final frames.
The bronze medal went to a breakout star from South Korea, 18-year-old Yu Seung-eun, who scored 171.00. Yu, competing in her first Olympics, shocked the field with a fearless performance that edged out veteran competitors.
Defending Olympic champion Anna Gasser of Austria, aiming for a historic third consecutive gold, finished off the podium in what may be her final Olympic appearance.
Canadian Disappointment
For Canadian fans, the final was notably void of the maple leaf. Veteran Laurie Blouin, the 2018 slopestyle silver medalist, missed the 12-woman final by a narrow margin, finishing 14th in the qualification round—just 3.25 points shy of the cut.
Young talent Juliette Pelchat also failed to advance, placing 16th in qualifiers, leaving Team Canada to watch from the sidelines as Murase crowned herself the new queen of Big Air.
Final Standings
🥇 Gold: Kokomo Murase (JPN) – 179.00
🥈 Silver: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (NZL) – 172.25
🥉 Bronze: Yu Seung-eun (KOR) – 171.00
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