Amid higher spins and younger challengers, Su Yiming showed maturity which may be the defining edge of his second Olympic appearance. The Chinese snowboarding star is now learning how to land, not just how to jump, and that could be his most valuable trick of all.
by sportswriter He Leijing
LIVIGNO, Italy, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Under the floodlights at Livigno Snow Park, Su Yiming secured China's first medal of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, taking bronze in the men's big air and greeting the moment with composure rather than celebration.
For the reigning Olympic champion, it was less about defending a title than showing he can stay at the top in a sport that never stops accelerating.
"I'm truly delighted to wear the national colors and stand here with our nation's first medal," Su said, the words measured, the smile steady.
At 21, the Beijing 2022 gold medalist arrived in Livigno among the favorites. Yet he knew that gold would demand something extraordinary. The final unfolded as a showcase of escalating difficulty, where consistency, not bravado, became the currency of success.
Su struck that balance early.
His opening run energized the venue, earning 88.25 points, the second-highest score of the first round. A slight wobble on his second landing tested his resolve, but experience carried him through. On his final attempt, Su delivered an 80.25-point run, enough to secure his place on the podium and complete a rare Olympic medal set.
"I'm proud of myself to still be able to bring this bronze medal home," he said. "It means a lot. I have gold and silver from Beijing, and now bronze. I finally have every color."
Su will return to action on February 16 for the men's slopestyle qualification. If all goes to plan, the final will fall on February 18, his 22nd birthday.
"Hopefully everything goes smoothly," he said. "I need to stay grounded, feel confident in training and be fully prepared."
OLD DUDE
Grounded is a word that may have sounded foreign to the teenager who electrified the Beijing Games four years ago. Then 17, Su soared to stardom after winning big air gold and slopestyle silver on home snow.
Injuries followed. So did burnout. The climb seemed dizzying for the young snowboarder.
"I was lost after the Olympics," Su said. "I was just a kid and didn't really know what was going on."
He stepped back. The pause, he said, helped him reset.
With a recalibrated mindset, Su returned to form at the 2025 World Championships in Engadin, Switzerland, claiming slopestyle silver and signaling that the fire had been rekindled.
"The most important thing I learned was never to lose the feeling of the first time you try the sport," he said. "You can't always chase wins. Feelings matter just as much."
That mindset was on display in Livigno as the big air final offered a snapshot of how quickly snowboarding has evolved.
At Beijing 2022, Su captured gold with a pair of 1,800-degree spins. Four years on, nearly 10 riders in the final attempted 1,980s, with one competitor even unveiling a 2,160.
Japan's Kira Kimura, 21, claimed gold, while silver went to his compatriot Ryoma Kimata. American teenager Oliver Martin, 17, finished fourth, with Italy's Ian Matteoli, 20, taking fifth.
Of the 12 finalists, only three were returning Olympians. Su was the sole rider who had also contested the Beijing 2022 final.
"When I look at the start list, a lot of them are younger than me," Su said, laughing. "It's crazy to think I'm the old dude."
"That's how snowboarding is evolving," he added. "The young guys are pushing the limits. And me, as the 'old dude,' I'm just trying to keep up and stay at the top level with them."
MAKE THE SPORT BIGGER
Su's sense of responsibility has grown alongside his resume.
"I now carry more responsibility," he said. "Not only to achieve my own dreams, but to be a responsible rider representing my nation."
Beyond medals, Su embraces a broader role. Once a child actor, he appeared in films and television before committing fully to snowboarding in 2018. While the two worlds seem far apart, he credits acting with shaping his patience and mental discipline.
"Never rush the performance," he said. "That applies to acting and to snowboarding."
Unlike many elite riders who produce niche snowboarding films, Su dreams bigger -- of a feature film that blends sport, storytelling and personality.
"I want to make a movie about snowboarding," he said. "Not just tricks, but a story. I want to bring the sport to a bigger stage."
The impact of Beijing 2022, and stars like Su and freestyle skier Gu Ailing, continues to ripple across China. Participation in winter sports has surpassed 300 million people, and the country's ice-and-snow industry is projected to exceed 1 trillion yuan ($144 billion) last year.
"In China, winter sports are developing at an incredible speed," Su said. "We're seeing young athletes challenge the hardest tricks. I believe many more elite riders will come from China."
For Su, the ambition now extends beyond podiums.
"I'm part of snowboarding and acting at the same time," he said. "I want to make snowboarding a sport that more people in the world can love."
"I'm really trying to make it bigger," he said resolutely.
In Livigno, amid ever-higher spins and ever-younger challengers, Su showed maturity, and that may be the defining edge of his second Olympic chapter.
The snowboarding sensation is now learning how to land, not just how to jump. And for Su, that may be the most valuable trick of all. ■
