Winter Olympics: Su Yiming thanks parents, ‘my motherland’ after big air gold, and no judging error to deny him

This time, Su Yiming left no room for controversy. The Chinese teenage sensation turned on the magic for his second run in the men’s snowboard big air event to conjure a long-awaited gold medal at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Tuesday.

With freestyle skier Eileen Gu settling for silver in the women’s slopestyle, it was left to Su to carry China’s gold hopes and he did it in style.

Canada’s Max Parrot, who beat the 17-year-old to gold in the slopestyle last week despite a judging error, was too far behind Su to challenge and had to be satisfied with the bronze. Norway’s Mons Roisland claimed the silver after solid first and third runs.

“I’m really, really happy,” Su Yiming said, burying his head in his hands and tries to contain his emotions. “I know my parents are here today to watch my competition. I know where they are sat but I can’t get close to them. I’m just very emotional. Thank you, my parents, my coach, my motherland and everyone else for supporting me.”

Su, a former child actor who has lit up the Beijing Games, was second after his first run of 89.50 and then stole the lead with a stunning 93 in his second effort, enough to seal a gold to go with his silver in the slopestyle.