Teenager Fukada Mari delivered a stunning performance on her Olympic debut, winning gold in the women’s snowboard slopestyle at the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 on Wednesday (18 February). Fukada sealed victory with a final-run score of 87.83, edging out New Zealand’s defending champion Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who finished just 0.35 points behind on 87.48.

All the top scores came in the third and final run, with Fukada extending her earlier lead under pressure. Her clean execution, highlighted by a switchback 12 (3.5 rotations), ultimately proved decisive. “The rails were long, so it was difficult to do everything, but I’m glad I was able to do it cleanly until the end,” she said after her victory.

For Sadowski-Synnott, the silver marked her fifth Olympic medal, one gold, three silvers, and one bronze, making her the first snowboarder, male or female, to win five Olympic medals.

Japan’s Murase Kokomo claimed bronze with 85.80, adding to her Olympic medal collection after previous podium finishes. While pleased to medal, the 21-year-old admitted mixed emotions, saying she had aimed for two golds and felt the weight of expectations despite her strong performance.