February 18 is his birthday. At the men's snowboard slopestyle final of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Su Yiming delivered an outstanding performance to win Team China’s first gold medal of these Games.

"Well then, we're going to go for gold again. We believe 100 percent that this goal can be achieved." Just days before the final, Su Yiming's coach, Yasuhiro Sato, said this in an exclusive interview with National Business Daily.

Su Yiming at the men’s snowboard slopestyle final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Screenshot from CCTV Video

More than a week earlier, in the men's snowboard big air event, Su Yiming made an unexpected mistake and ultimately claimed the bronze medal with 168.50 points — the first medal won by the Chinese delegation at these Games.

After the competition, medal in hand, Su Yiming buried his head tightly in the embrace of his coach, Yasuhiro Sato. "I should be proud of myself right now. I feel so much pressure — this was supposed to be a gold medal."

Four years ago at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, the 18-year-old Su Yiming soared and spun through the air to win China's first-ever Olympic gold medal in snowboard. At the time, Yasuhiro Sato told National Business Daily with emotion: "He works hard and consistently seeks to improve. He is very dedicated to this sport and can push himself during training."

Now, in another exclusive interview with National Business Daily, Yasuhiro Sato, who has coached Su Yiming since he was 14, admitted that after the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, Su Yiming went through an unimaginable low point. He even questioned whether he should continue snowboarding.

Since reaching the summit, Su Yiming and Yasuhiro Sato have faced the constant pressure of aiming for "gold to gold". The past four years have been a process of struggle and transformation, through confusion, injuries, technical adjustments, and personal growth.

Su Yiming, shown at the far right,has now collected medals of every color at the Olympic Winter Games. Image source: Su Yiming's Weibo account

He Couldn't Stop Thinking About "From Gold to Gold"

On the afternoon of February 8, before the men's snowboard big air qualifying round began, the atmosphere was quiet and tense. Su Yiming stood beneath the start platform, his goggles reflecting the distant snow-covered slope. He tightened his bindings slightly — and then pushed off.

His first run featured his signature 1980-degree spin (5½ rotations) in the air. Takeoff. Spin. Landing. At the final moment, however, his hand lightly brushed the snow.It was a subtle mistake, but one that nearly made it seem as though he might not advance to the final.

Standing by the course, Yasuhiro Sato witnessed the moment. He later said that in training, Su Yiming almost never touches the snow on landing, and the team had repeatedly worked on reinforcing stability. But under competition pressure, even the smallest mental shift can cause subtle changes in execution.

In the end, Su Yiming, who had entered the final ranked fourth, claimed the bronze medal. After the event, he said, "No matter the result today, I gave everything. I held nothing back, and I have no regrets."

At 21, he has now completed his collection of Olympic Winter Games medals — one gold, one silver, and one bronze.

NBD: What does this bronze medal mean for his current career stage?

Yasuhiro Sato: He has competed in two Winter Olympic Games and has won a total of three medals — that's an extraordinary achievement.

Four years ago, at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, he was not yet 18 and won a gold and a silver. At that time, he certainly felt pressure, but he did not face the burden of being a defending champion. This time, as the defending champion from Beijing, he had to endure enormous pressure. Even so, he overcame this challenge and claimed the bronze medal. Looking ahead, he now has higher goals. This is an important stage in his career.

NBD: How would you evaluate his overall performance in the men's big air event at this Winter Olympics?

Yasuhiro Sato: He performed very well and won the bronze medal. But as the defending champion, our goal was, of course, to go for gold again, and unfortunately, we didn't achieve that. Still, we are very happy — he performed excellently and successfully stood on the podium. From the qualification round all the way to the final, we gave it our all; we did everything we could, and he fully deserved this stage. But as the defending champion, the pressure on him was enormous. We still need to adjust — not just him, but I also have to adjust my own mindset.

NBD: This competition wasn’t easy at all. Which on-site details were you paying the most attention to? And what was the biggest technical breakthrough?

Yasuhiro Sato: This was an extremely tough competition, but he performed very well. I focused especially on his the switch backside landing — a critical element in his run, and we mainly concentrated on improving it.

In the final, when he did the switch backside 1980 spin, his hand touched the snow on landing, which limited his score, but we had already given our absolute best. In training, he would never touch the snow on landing, yet under the pressure of the final, this still happened. This was definitely a mental issue — it's actually one of his signature moves that we've been practicing for many years. Despite the hand touch, he still executed an impressive run.

The biggest technical change in this competition was the way he grabbed the board during his backside rotation. Previously, he used an indy grab (rear hand grabs the middle of the board), but this time we switched to a nose grab (front hand grabs the nose of the board). This was the biggest technical adjustment since the Beijing Winter Olympics. Compared with other athletes completing similar rotations, the judges gave him a higher score, and we were satisfied with that.

NBD: You've mentioned the word "pressure" several times. Could you share more specifically the pressure Su Yiming was facing?

Yasuhiro Sato: Actually, until the first round of the qualification, we thought things were okay. But after his mistake, we realized just how much pressure he had been under. As the defending champion from the Beijing Winter Olympics, he carries the high expectations of the entire country and the media — which is a good thing. He himself told all the media, “I want to win another gold for China, for my supporters, for my parents and coach.” But when the goal of a “gold medal” is constantly brought up, it keeps appearing in your mind over and over, creating pressure.

From “Not Knowing What to Do” to “Chasing Gold Again”

In the months following the Beijing Winter Olympics, Su Yiming stepped away from the spotlight and the tension of the competition course. Before turning 18, he had already stood atop the highest podium, becoming the "prodigy" in everyone's eyes. But after reaching that peak, he faced a new challenge intertwined with pressure, confusion, and rebirth.

During that period, his training pace slowed. Yasuhiro Sato said he was visibly exhausted, and both his mind and body needed space. Over the past four years, Su went from losing motivation and falling into a period of confusion, to taking time off, facing injuries, and finally returning to the competition circuit. Throughout, he was determined to overcome the obstacles in his path.

The loss at the elite big air event in Beijing became a turning point in his life — prompting him to seriously reconsider his career in snowboarding and his life path. The four years that followed were a mental battle without an audience or medals. In every training session and on every landing, he focused on correcting his mistakes and improving.

NBD: How did Su Yiming’s life change after becoming a champion at the Beijing Winter Olympics?

Yasuhiro Sato: After winning the gold and silver medals, he temporarily lost motivation. At that time, he really needed a period of rest. Before the Beijing Winter Olympics, he had poured everything into high-intensity training. During that break, other athletes gradually caught up, and the overall level of the men’s big air snowboarding event became much closer, with significantly increased competition intensity.

We talked about this many times. If he hadn’t taken such a long break, things might have been easier. But I believe this is part of his life. This experience has made him a better athlete and a better person.

After returning from the rest period, he regained full motivation, with his sights set on the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. But then he faced injuries, and we had to overcome these challenges. At one point, it was even uncertain whether he could make it to Milano because of his injuries. Two seasons before, our goal was to earn enough FIS points to secure Olympic qualification and represent China.

So, overcoming injuries and coping with psychological pressure was the biggest challenge we had to overcome. This was the toughest challenge we faced, but we managed to overcome it. Therefore, this bronze medal is immensely meaningful — for us, for Su Yiming’s career, and even for his future life.

Now he has collected gold, silver, and bronze medals. We firmly believe that we will strike for gold again — it’s a cycle. After the Beijing Winter Olympics, when he told me he didn’t know what to do next, I jokingly said to him, “You just need a bronze medal, let’s go to Italy and get it.” And unexpectedly, it came true. Now we say again, “Alright, we’re going for gold once more.” We believe we can achieve this goal.

NBD: Over the past four years, in your view, what are the most noticeable areas of growth for Su Yiming?

Yasuhiro Sato: He now understands which moves work best against top competitors, giving him greater confidence. His two signature tricks as long as they are executed with quality, give him the capability to compete for the podium. Compared to four years ago, his judgment during competitions, his strategic thinking, risk management, and ability to execute under pressure have all improved significantly.

In training or competitions, when he makes mistakes or errors, sometimes he clearly knows what went wrong and will tell me how to correct it, ensuring that his approach is correct. Other times, when he isn’t sure what happened, he will ask me, “What just happened?” I then explain what I saw, and together we adjust.

The Prophecy Eight Years Ago and the “I Love You” on the Milano Cortina 2026 Stage Eight Years Later

Eight years ago, when Yasuhiro Sato first met 14-year-old Su Yiming, he told him, "You will reach the highest level in the sport, and we will work to achieve it together." Eight years later, at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, 51-year-old Sato and 21-year-old Su embraced once again on the stage, ready to "go for gold again".

Off the slopes, Su Yiming and Yasuhiro Sato have a bond closer than most people realize. They are more than coach and athlete—they trust and understand each other deeply, like close friends or family. The care, encouragement, honesty, and trust between them provide not only technical support but also psychological stability, and a shared drive to fulfill the promise made eight years ago.

Yasuhiro Sato (left) and Su Yiming (right) during a training session Image source: Yasuhiro Sato’s personal social media account

NBD: Over all these years, which moment has been the most memorable or meaningful for you and Su Yiming?

Yasuhiro Sato: About a year ago, he made his return to the competition scene. In that top-level big air event at the Beijing Winter Olympics, I remember he only placed tenth. Later, after taking some time off, he won a competition again, and then lost again. It was from that day that he began to seriously reflect on his career in snowboarding and on his life.

That night, everyone supporting him—his family, my family, and friends—had prepared dinner, but he never showed up. I went to find him and saw him lying alone for a full hour. He told me that he actually regretted taking a break after the Beijing Winter Olympics, because he could have accumulated more skills and experience. After that, he finally had an awakening, realizing that he had to focus completely on preparing for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and get the work done—this was a crucial turning point.

NBD: In your collaboration, do you always communicate with Su Yiming in such a direct, emotional way by saying “I love you”?

Yasuhiro Sato: He is the person I trust the most. Although there's a 30-year age difference between us, we are more like friends and partners, and there's absolutely no generational gap. Sometimes we have disagreements, but we respect, trust, and are honest with each other. I've also learned a lot from him, and we've come a long way together.

Before this competition, I said “I love you” once, and I've said it before as well. I believe expressing love like this is helpful, and this time it was more about helping him relieve pressure. Compared to before, our way of communicating this time is a bit different. He's now 21 and an adult, so more often he has to face things on his own. With mutual understanding, he is very honest and openly tells me how he feels. So most of the time now, I just tell him: “Forget everything, give it your all, go for it, let's do this!”

NBD: How would you describe Su Yiming? What qualities of his impress you the most?

Yasuhiro Sato: He is extremely focused and full of a sense of humor. It's really hard to sum him up in just one word, because so many come to mind at once. Nowadays, some athletes specialize only in the big air event, while others focus solely on slopestyle — that's the current state of freestyle snowboarding. He is the only athlete with the ability to contend for gold in both events, and he is currently at the very peak of his career.

NBD: Has your relationship changed over the years? If you could go back to the day you first met him, what would you say?

Yasuhiro Sato: Nothing has really changed. I've been coaching him since he was 14, and we quickly built a very strong bond — now it's been almost eight years. We spend most of the year together, and even when we're apart, we stay in constant contact by phone. Whether it's coach and athlete, father and son, or friends — it's all of that, really. We've been through so much together.

If I could go back to the day we first met, I'd say the same thing: “You will reach the very top of the world, and we'll achieve it together. This isn't just for you, and it isn't just for me — it's for the sport of snowboarding.”

“What you have achieved isn't just by yourself”

In the world of freestyle snowboarding, Increasing difficulty has become essential for success. Over the past four years, the overall level of men's snowboard big air has risen rapidly, and the difficulty ceiling in men's big air has continually risen.Signature moves that once wowed the audience at the Beijing Winter Olympics have now become a "standard entry ticket" for top athletes.

At the podium, Su Yiming now pays attention not just to scores and rankings, but also to the meaning behind them.He has learned to listen to both his body and his inner voice, and he understands more clearly the responsibilities and meaning behind the flowers and applause. Draped in the national flag atop the podium, he said he felt "extremely happy and honored to wear the national team uniform again and stand on the Olympic stage to win the first medal for my country."

NBD: During the preparation cycle for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, what key training work did you focus on together?

Sato Yasuhiro: The most important thing was definitely the difficulty of his tricks. In freestyle snowboarding, you need high-difficulty tricks essential for podium contention. So we focused on refining his most competitive tricks—the ones that could beat other athletes. Looking ahead, we will continue to experiment with and prepare even more difficult tricks, because there are still four years until the next Winter Olympics, and the overall level of snowboarding will continue to rise.

NBD: After becoming an Olympic champion, how do you help him balance media attention and the spotlight so he can stay focused on training and competition?

Sato Yasuhiro: He is now one of China's most well-known snowboarders. Many fans want to take photos or get autographs, which is a wonderful thing, but it also brings added pressure—this is part of his life now.

At the same time, the growing attention helps promote freestyle snowboarding, which has been one of our goals since I first started coaching him. Perhaps we can do more for the sport, and this is one of his most important responsibilities. Whether in education, sports, or even at a societal level, we hope to positively influence as many people as possible.

NBD: Off the slopes, what kind of athlete do you hope he becomes?

Sato Yasuhiro: I hope he becomes a kind person who helps others and supports the next generation of young athletes. Snowboarding is attracting more and more young people—we can already see so many youngsters getting into the sport. I believe even more people will join in the future.

NBD: What would you like to say to young snowboarders who are pursuing the sport and chasing their dreams?

Sato Yasuhiro: The level of snowboarding competitions today is very high. If they want to become top athletes in the future, they must train hard. At the same time, I hope that on the day they succeed, they will understand the importance of being grateful for the environment and conditions they have—it didn't come out of nowhere. Over the past three or four decades, countless enthusiasts and athletes have built up the snowboarding world step by step, and in China, the development of winter sports is being strongly promoted, allowing it to grow continuously. So I hope they cherish the environment and opportunities they have now. Never forget, these conditions aren't just because of you. Don't be selfish; always be grateful to everyone around you.​