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Japan's Kimura soars to Olympic gold in snowboard big air final
Kira Kimura won Japan's first-ever men's snowboard big air Olympic gold at the Milan-Cortina Games on Saturday, producing a stunning final run under pressure to edge out compatriot Ryoma Kimata.
Kimura scored a total of 179.50 points to top the podium at Livigno Snow Park after posting 90.50 in his third and final run.
World champion Kimata finished with 171.50 points while defending Olympic champion Su Yiming of China took bronze with 168.50.
The 21-year-old Kimura, 11th at last year's world championship, topped the leaderboard after an impressive 89.00 in his first run.
But he flunked his second effort, meaning he had to produce something special in his third run -- and he did not disappoint.
Scores from two highest-scoring runs in the three rounds are combined to determine the athlete's overall score.
Japan and China are the dominant forces in big air but Japan had never won a medal of any colour since big air made its Olympic debut in 2018.
In the big air event, snowboarders launch themselves into the air from a steeply banked jump and complete as many tricks as they can.
M. Tschebyachkinchoy--BTZ
