Martin Just Off Podium in Olympic Snowboard Big Air, Finishes Fourth

On a thrilling night at the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, 17-year-old Ollie Martin delivered a standout performance in the men’s snowboard big air final, just missing an Olympic medal in fourth place. 

Martin, the youngest rider in the event and the only U.S. competitor to advance to the finals, impressed against seasoned veterans. Dealing with a broken arm sustained from a fall in X Games practice just 10 days earlier - in which he had surgery for - the Colorado native showed resilience and determination to compete in his first Olympic games and finish just shy of the podium.

When asked about narrowly missing the podium in a post contest interview, Martin was as optimistic as ever.

"I mean any result is great, fourth is great, third would have been better, but I'm just happy I am out of the contest safe."

"i'm pretty proud of myself," Martin continued. "Just to be able to come this far is pretty cool."

The men’s snowboard big air gold was won by Japan’s Kira Kimura with teammate Ryoma Kimata taking the silver. China’s Yiming Su, the defending Olympic champion from Beijing, claimed bronze.

Reaching the Olympic final on his debut Games is an achievement in itself. A rising star in the snowboard world, Martin gained international attention before the Olympics with top World Cup and World Championships results, including two bronze medals at the 2025 World Championships just last year.

Martin was the only American man to qualify for the big air finals; Jake Canter, Red Gerard and Sean FitzSimons all participated in the qualification round, but did not make it through to finals. The snowboard big air/slopestyle team next competes in snowboard slopestyle qualifications on Feb. 16.

RESULTS
Men’s Olympic big air