New Zealander Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Japan's Kokomo Murase and Mia Brookes of Great Britain took the top three spots in Sunday night's qualifying in women's snowboard big air at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Sadowski-Synnott and Murase are the returning silver and bronze medalists from 2022, while Brookes, 19, is competing in her debut Games.

FULL RESULTS

Murase's fellow countrywomen Mari Fukada, Reira Iwabuchi and Momo Suzuki were also among the 12 riders to make it through to the final, giving Japan a great shot at the podium.

Two-time defending Olympic gold medalist Anna Gasser placed 9th to advance, as did Yu Seungeun of South Korea in 4th.

None of the three Americans competing — Lily Dhawornvej, Hahna Norman and Jessica Perlmutter — made it through, placing 20th, 23rd and 28th, respectively. They'll look to rebound in slopestyle.

Sadowski-Synnott's opening run, a clean and controlled switch backside 1260, garnered the highest score of the night at 90.00. The Kiwi combined it with equal B scores of 82.25 on her next two for a cumulative total of 172.25.

Meanwhile, Murase was the only rider other than Sadwoski-Synnott to hit 80.00-plus on all three runs, putting down a frontside triple cork 1260 and a backside double cork 1260 for a combined 171.25.

Brookes' Run 2 backside 1260 Melon grab tallied the second-highest individual run of the competition at 89.00. She coupled that with a super clutch cab 1080 on her final run to close at 167.00.

"It was special to land that third one," she said. "You're in the air, thinking about it in the back of your mind, spinning and [thinking], ‘Oh my god, I've got to land this’."

The 2023 world champ in slopestyle said the experience was "insane" but "every minute was awesome."

Gasser's 159.50 total comprised an off-axis Cab 900 double grab and a beautiful backside double cork 1080 Japan grab. She said her strategy was to show very clean runs and that she got nervous throughout because of the strong competition.

"I have to say now, with everyone being so much younger, it got a little harder and also with some injuries," she said, "but I still love what I'm doing and that's why I'm still here."