Mia Brookes expressed no regrets after her high-stakes Olympic gamble resulted in a fourth-place finish in the snowboarding Big Air final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games. The 19-year-old from Cheshire went all-in on a trick she had never attempted on snow before, narrowly missing out on a podium spot.
Bold Move in Pursuit of Gold
Entering her final run in third position, Brookes decided to risk everything by attempting a backside 1620 - a complex maneuver involving four and a half rotations in the air. Only one woman had successfully landed this trick in competition previously, making Brookes' attempt particularly audacious.
The judges ruled she had slightly over-rotated the landing, dropping her score and pushing her off the podium. New Zealand's Zoi Sadowski-Synnott capitalized with a late charge to claim bronze, while Japan's Kokomo Murase took gold and South Korea's Yu Seungeun secured silver.
Philosophy of Risk and Reward
"I've never tried it before on snow but it's the Olympics," Brookes explained. "I gave it everything I could and more. I could have done an easier trick and come fourth or third, but if I'd landed that I might have won gold. I'd rather be in fourth trying to do something totally insane."
The young athlete displayed remarkable perspective immediately after the competition, grinning widely despite the disappointment. She emphasized that attempting such groundbreaking tricks represents the essence of her sport, where pushing boundaries matters more than playing it safe.
Looking Ahead to Slopestyle
Brookes now turns her attention to next week's slopestyle competition, where she enters as a strong favorite. The event represents her signature discipline, having won gold at the recent X Games in Aspen and becoming the youngest snowboarding world champion in history at just 16 years old in 2023.
"I reckon I'll go for it again in the slopestyle," she declared. "I'm going all in now. I'm hyped for it. Everything good can come from it. I'm in a good headspace."
British Snowboarding Legacy
Brookes was attempting to follow in the footsteps of British snowboarding pioneers Jenny Jones and Billy Morgan, who previously won Olympic medals for Team GB. Her fourth-place finish mirrored that of close friend Kirsty Muir, who also placed fourth in her event earlier the same day.
The teenager's approach reflects a new generation of snowboarders who prioritize progression and boundary-pushing over conservative competition strategies. "I think people will be just as stoked seeing me try it as if I'd won a medal," Brookes suggested, highlighting the sport's evolving ethos.
With the slopestyle competition approaching, Brookes remains undeterred by her near-miss in Big Air. Her confidence appears unshaken, and her commitment to attempting groundbreaking tricks remains firm, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting second Olympic event for the young British snowboarder.
