The 2026 Winter Olympics have kicked off with excitement at the snowboard competition held in Livigno, Italy. The men’s snowboard big air qualifiers took place on February 5, showcasing impressive performances under the night sky.
Top Performers in Snowboard Big Air Qualifiers
Japan’s Ogiwara Hiroto led the qualifiers with a remarkable score of 178.50. He advanced to the finals, showing his potential as a strong contender.
Italian snowboarder Ian Matteoli thrilled the audience by securing second place. The excitement from the home crowd added to the atmosphere, showcasing national pride in the competition.
Completing the top three spots was Japan’s Kimura Kira. Notably, the reigning Olympic champion, Su Yiming from China, qualified in fourth place. He aims to defend his gold medal from the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Athlete Insights
Ogiwara expressed his satisfaction after the qualifiers, stating, “I’m really happy that at my first Olympics, I stomped the tricks I wanted and got great scores.” He emphasized his calm approach during the competition, crediting successful training leading up to the event.
- Ogiwara Hiroto: Score – 178.50 (First place)
- Ian Matteoli: Home crowd favorite (Second place)
- Kimura Kira: Achieved third place
- Su Yiming: Fourth place (defending champion)
Looking ahead to the finals, Ogiwara aims to maintain his high performance, declaring, “In the final, I want to give my 100 and go for the win.”
The competition continues to heat up as athletes prepare for more thrilling events. Fans are eager to see how the snowboarders perform in the upcoming finals.
