Su Yiming earns China's first medal at 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics

Su Yiming claimed China's first medal at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, earning bronze in the men's snowboard big air final on Saturday.

The event, known for its breathtaking aerial maneuvers, saw riders launch off a ramp to execute flips, spins and twists, with the best two of three runs counting toward their final scores.

Coming in looking to defend his title, the 21-year-old Su opened strong with a stunning 1980-degree spin, notching an impressive 88.25 points that initially placed him second.

But his second run turned into a challenge to overcome. On a switch backside 1980 executed with a slight bobble, Su's hands grazed the snow, resulting in a score of 73.75 points. That dropped him to fifth place, as he faced mounting pressure.

Determined to rise to the occasion, Su repeated his earlier maneuver, this time improving to 80.25 points. With a total of 168.50, he surged back into contention, claiming third place and sealing the bronze medal.

Japan's Kira Kimura grabbed gold with 179.50 points, while his compatriot Ryoma Kimata snagged silver with 171.50.

Reflecting on his performance under intense expectations as the defending champion, Su expressed immense pride.

"I'm just really proud of myself for dealing with such great pressure, while still being able to land my tricks," he said.

"And finally, I have every single medal color. I'm truly delighted to wear the national colors and stand here after clinching our nation's first medal. Standing in this competitive field, and on this podium wearing the national flag, is the proudest achievement."