The Japan Times - Birthday boy Su wins China's first gold of Milan-Cortina Olympics

Su scored 82.41 points on his first run of three in bright sunshine at Livigno Snow Park to lay down a marker and was never caught, upgrading the silver he won at the 2022 Beijing Winter Games.

Japan's Taiga Hasegawa took silver with 82.13 while US snowboarder Jake Canter (79.36) won bronze, with the best run of three counting.

Su, who won big air gold in Beijing, was overcome with emotion at the end of his third and final run and again when he was on the podium.

The Chinese star, who turned 22 on Wednesday, only qualified for the slopestyle final in eighth position but established an early grip on the competition in the Italian Alps, edging past Hasegawa with his first effort.

He failed to improve on his score but ultimately it did not matter, as he upgraded the silver medal he won in Beijing.

Now he has multiple reasons to celebrate his performance, achieved during Lunar New Year.

"There's no better way, you know, this is like the best ever. I was actually thinking there's no better gift for myself for my 22nd birthday, so I really appreciate it."

Su took time out after the Beijing Games, suffering from burnout and a lack of motivation but won silver at last year's world championships to show he was back in business.

"I'm just really, truly proud of myself to still be able to come back on this stage and then perform the best way that I want, that I can," he said.

"And then after my third run I just started to realise this is my last run at the 2026 Milan Olympics."

Su, who won big air bronze earlier in the Games and now has four Olympic medals, said he could not control his emotions.

"So many emotions just came up to my head and then started to realise today was my birthday and then my parents are here to support me and my coaches out there, you know, everybody is here to support me.

"The emotions just came and I just couldn't stop crying."

China had failed to win a single gold until Su's triumph -- a huge disappointment after winning nine at their home Games four years ago.

Canada's Mark McMorris, who crashed during big air training, was denied a fourth straight medal in slopestyle.

Slopestyle riders are scored on their tricks and jumps over multiple ramps, rails and other obstacles.

K.Inoue--JT