Japanese Champion Claims Women’s Snowboard Title at Milan Olympics
Kokomo Murase of Japan captured the women’s big air gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan on Tuesday, edging New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who claimed silver in her bid for a fourth Olympic medal in the discipline.
Murase, the reigning world champion, demonstrated dominant form throughout the competition. Sadowski-Synnott, the 24-year-old Kiwi sensation from Wanaka, had qualified first with a score of 172.25 but couldn’t replicate that performance in the final run, ultimately settling for silver—her second Big Air medal after claiming bronze at PyeongChang 2018 and silver at Beijing 2022.
Qualifying Round Dominance
Sadowski-Synnott had made a strong statement during qualifying, setting the tone early with a switch backside 1260 that earned a 90.00—the highest score of the night. She landed a backside double cork 1080 on her second attempt and finished with another backside 1080, cementing her top qualification spot ahead of Murase, who qualified second with 171.25.
Great Britain’s Mia Brookes finished third in qualifying with 167.00, signaling another competitive women’s field in the sport’s premier freestyle event.
Gasser’s Struggles as Defending Champion
The most dramatic storyline of the competition involved Anna Gasser, the two-time defending Olympic champion from Austria. Gasser qualified in ninth place with 159.50, struggling to replicate the form that carried her to back-to-back golds. The result marked a significant stumble for one of snowboarding’s most accomplished athletes.
The Milan competition underscored the rapid progression and increasing depth of women’s snowboarding talent on the Olympic stage. Sadowski-Synnott, despite her silver-medal finish, continues to establish herself as one of winter sports’ most dynamic competitors, with an impressive resume that includes multiple X Games championships and unprecedented tricks landing progressive achievements.
Medal Breakdown
- Gold: Kokomo Murase (Japan)
- Silver: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (New Zealand)
- Bronze: Mia Brookes (Great Britain)
The result extends Japan’s strong snowboarding performance at the Milan Olympics, continuing the nation’s tradition of producing world-class athletes in freestyle disciplines.
