Who Is Su Yiming? 10 Photos of the 2026 Winter Olympics Men's Snowboarding Slopestyle Star Who Made History on His Birthday

Su Yiming has become the standout star of the 2026 Winter Olympics, clinching gold in the men's snowboard slopestyle event on his 22nd birthday and etching his name in Chinese sporting history. The athlete from Jilin City secured the victory at Livigno with a leading score of 82.41 from his first run, ahead of Japan's Taiga Hasegawa on 82.13 and the United States' Jake Canter on 79.36.

This triumph delivered China's first gold medal at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games and built on Su's record from the Beijing 2022 Olympics, where he claimed gold in big air and silver in slopestyle.

From Child Actor to Snowboard Prodigy

Su Yiming's path started in Jilin City on 18 February 2004. His parents introduced him to the slopes at age four. By seven, Su had secured his first sponsorship deal. His talent soon caught the attention of film producers, leading to a role in 'The Taking of Tiger Mountain' in 2014, where he played Zi Shuan.

The film's success led to more acting work, propelling him into child stardom in China. In 2018, he committed fully to snowboarding. Standing 5.6 feet tall and weighing 132 lbs, Su's frame proved ideal for the sport, and his rapid rise was hardly a surprise.

Growing up with snowboarder parents who both rode regularly instilled an early love for the mountains. His childhood often meant racing through homework to maximise slope time despite limited gear availability in his cold hometown.

Rise in Snowboarding Career

Su's international breakthrough came in 2019, but his defining moment arrived in 2021 when he became the first Chinese snowboarder to podium at a World Cup, winning big air at Steamboat. At Beijing 2022, he won big air gold and slopestyle silver, instantly becoming a national hero.

After the Games, Su enrolled at Tsinghua University. Leading into 2026, he captured big air bronze at Livigno. His style has drawn admiration from veterans like Canada's Mark McMorris, who described the field as an 'absolute war' after finishing eighth.

Following Beijing's highs, Su faced injuries and fame-related burnout, prompting a temporary break to regain motivation and mental balance. This reset helped him mature, adopt a steadier approach amid rising spins and younger rivals, and maintain training consistency while balancing academics with passions like surfing, guitar playing, and fashion collaborations.

The Birthday Triumph in Slopestyle

In the slopestyle final on 18 February, Su delivered a flawless first run on the Livigno course with three rail elements and three jumps. He was the only finalist to complete all three runs without errors. 'There's no better gift for myself for my 22nd birthday. I'm just really, truly proud of myself,' Su remarked.

Su's gold medal run featured a backside 450 to frontside out, cab 180 to backside rodeo 900 stalefish, butter cab 1440 mute, switch backside 1620 melon, and backside 1800 nose grab, earning 82.41 points. The emotional peak came after his third run, when thoughts of his parents and coaches brought him to tears.

Su Yiming's achievement continues to inspire across China, coinciding with Chinese New Year festivities. On X, China News shared his words: 'My dream has come true.' This gold solidifies his position as a leading figure in snowboarding, with implications for China's growing presence in winter sports.