In one of the most emotionally charged moments of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Chinese snowboard sensation Su Yiming delivered the ultimate birthday gift to himself — an Olympic gold medal. The 22-year-old sat in the snow at the bottom of the slopestyle course in Livigno, tears rolling down his cheeks, waiting anxiously as rival after rival failed to top his score. When the last competitor fell short, the celebration erupted.
Su secured gold with his very first run of the final on Wednesday, February 18, posting a score of 82.41 to edge out Japan’s Hasegawa Taiga, who claimed silver with 82.13, while Team USA’s Jake Canter took the bronze with 79.36.
The Perfect Gift
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“I can’t find any better gift for my 22nd birthday today — this is my dream come true,” Su said. The sentiment resonated deeply with fans watching worldwide, as the milestone win came on the very day he turned 22, transforming an already-spectacular athletic moment into a story of near-fairytale proportions.
Su’s opening run was a masterclass in technical snowboarding — he opened with a gap backside 450 to fakie, then threaded through a series of complex rail combinations, before capping it off through the jumps with a nosebutter switch frontside 1440, into a switch backside 1620 melon, and then a backside 1800 nosegrab to clinch his winning score.
History in the Making
With his fourth career Olympic medal, Su Yiming joined Austria’s Ben Karl as the most decorated snowboarder in Olympic history. The achievement is all the more remarkable given his age. Su won gold in big air and silver in slopestyle at the Beijing 2022 Games. Now, she is a key player in a sport usually led by Western athletes.
The gold was confirmed when New Zealand’s Dane Menzies crashed as the final competitor, and Su celebrated wildly — screaming and throwing his helmet into the air.
China’s Crowning Moment
The victory carried even greater weight on a national level. Su Yiming gold was China’s first of the Milano Cortina 2026 Games, and he acknowledged the pressure he had been carrying: “There’s a lot of pressure on the shoulders for sure, trying to get this gold for Team China. That’s what I’ve been thinking for so many days after the big air. I’m so lucky to finally get this done.”
A Crash-Marred Final That Only He Survived
Su Yiming was the only one of the 12 finalists to complete all three runs without any falls or major errors — a stunning display of composure in a chaotic final that saw multiple top contenders, including Canada’s legendary three-time bronze medalist Mark McMorris, fall short. McMorris, who had been concussed in training two weeks prior, finished eighth.
Bigger Than Sport
Su Yiming impact reaches well beyond the slopes. His growing popularity might attract more sponsors and global media coverage. His success will inspire more investment. This will boost snowboarding and winter sports in China and nearby countries.
“Competing at this big event, alongside top riders, and representing Team China means everything to me,” Su said after his win.
