Great Britain's Mia Brookes delivered a heart-stopping performance in the women's snowboard Big Air final at the Milan and Cortina Winter Olympics, but ultimately fell just short of securing the nation's first medal of the Games. Competing at the Livigno Snow Park, Brookes finished in a gut-wrenching fourth place after a daring final run that captured the attention of spectators worldwide.
A Bold Gamble in the Final Moments
Entering her third and final run sitting in third position, Brookes made the courageous decision to go for broke. She attempted to become the first female athlete ever to successfully land a backside 1620 in competition—a trick involving four and a half rotations that would have almost certainly secured her a spot on the podium.
Agonisingly Close to Olympic History
The young snowboarder came agonisingly close to making history, but slightly over-rotated during her descent. This critical error led to a penalised landing from the judges, causing her to slip one position in the final standings. The gold medal was claimed by Japan's Kokomo Murase, with New Zealander Zio Sadowski Synnott taking silver and Seungeun Yu of South Korea earning bronze.
With the Big Air event scoring based on the cumulative total of each athlete's two best runs from three attempts, Brookes had positioned herself perfectly heading into that final attempt. She trailed only Yu and Murase at that stage, setting up what could have been a triumphant conclusion to her Olympic campaign.
Team GB's Day of Near-Misses Continues
Brookes' fourth-place finish marked another near-miss for Great Britain on a day that had promised significant medal potential. Earlier in the competition, fellow Team GB athlete Kirsty Muir also finished fourth in the women's ski slopestyle final, adding to the sense of what might have been for British winter sports fans.
Looking Ahead to Slopestyle Redemption
Despite the disappointment in Big Air, Brookes now turns her attention to what she considers her favourite event: the snowboard slopestyle competition scheduled for later next week. Her brave final attempt in Livigno demonstrated both her technical capability and competitive spirit—qualities that could serve her well as she seeks redemption in the upcoming discipline.
The 19-year-old's performance, while ultimately falling short of a medal, showcased the progression of British snowboarding talent on the global stage. Her willingness to attempt such a difficult trick under Olympic pressure speaks volumes about her ambition and the growing confidence of Team GB in winter sports.
