LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — A generation ago, the sight of an Olympic halfpipe podium drenched in red, white and blue was as common as fresh powder on the mountain — a fitting and expected celebration for a sport born and raised in the United States.

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — That ever-growing bench of Japanese snowboarders runs deep. Jumps very high, too. The country that has steadily been asserting mastery over the halfpipe took that show to the Winter Olympics big air contest Saturday night,

Can anyone beat the "Quad God" Ilia Malinin at the Winter Olympics? Japan's Yuma Kagiyama will take his best shot on Tuesday.

It’s been an exciting first full day of the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. Men’s snowboard big air: Japan’s Kira Kimura walked away with a gold medal after wowing judges and getting the highest score on his final run. Ryoma Kimata, also representing Japan, finished with silver.

Olympic halfpipe champion Ayumu Hirano offered a small update regarding his recent injuries, suggesting he will attempt to defend his title next week in the Milan Cortina Games.

American Andrew Torgashev placed inside the top 10 with his short program score of 88.94, but he is unlikely to challenge for the medal podium. France's Adam Siao Him Fa, Italy's Daniel Grassl and Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan are the top contenders for the bronze medal.

The final quarterfinal spot from Group B will be determined on Wednesday, as Italy takes on Germany on the last day of the preliminary round of the women’s ice hockey tournament at the 2026 Winter Olympics.