In a breathtaking comeback that had fans on the edge of their seats, 22-year-old American snowboarder Jake Canter delivered a clutch final run to claim bronze in the men’s slopestyle event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on Wednesday — marking his first Olympic medal and a breakthrough moment for Team USA.
Canter, making his Olympic debut after securing his spot with a World Cup victory in Aspen earlier this season, sat in 10th place after the opening two runs. But he saved his best for last, landing a massive double underflip off the canon and capping it with a huge backside 1980 on the final jump to post a score of 79.36. The performance held up through the remaining competitors, securing the podium spot as rivals from Canada, Norway, and New Zealand fell short of displacing him.
China’s Su Yiming, celebrating his 22nd birthday, took gold with an 82.41, upgrading his Beijing silver and adding to a bronze from big air earlier in these Games. Japan’s Taiga Hasegawa, the 2023 big air world champion, earned silver with 82.13.
The bronze is a significant achievement for U.S. men’s slopestyle, marking the first medal in the discipline since 2018 and highlighting Canter’s rapid rise. The young rider’s composure under pressure — waiting anxiously as top names attempted to overtake him — underscored his poise and skill on one of snowboarding’s most demanding courses.
“PODIUM SECURED!” Team USA posted triumphantly across social media, with fans flooding in congratulations for the breakout star. Canter’s medal adds to the growing U.S. haul in freestyle snowboarding at these Olympics, proving once again that American riders thrive on big stages.
As the Milano Cortina Games roll on, Jake Canter’s bronze serves as an electrifying reminder: sometimes the biggest moments come from those who seize them when it counts most.
