After conquering halfpipe’s most anticipated new trick and adding Olympic gold to his résumé, what comes next for Ayumu Hirano?

Hirano emerged on the contest scene when he was just 14, immediately capturing attention with big amplitude and big tricks. He quickly emerged as one of the top rivals to Shaun White over the next decade.

But just as Hirano was establishing himself as an elite rider, White was already trying to push the envelope with a new trick: the triple cork. He first tried the triple cork during a private training session in 2013, and a failed attempt put him in the hospital and caused him to shelve the idea of learning that trick. Halfpipe snowboarding continued to progress, but for years it did so without the triple cork.

Meanwhile, Hirano competed at two Olympics as a teenager, finishing second behind Iouri Podladtchikov in 2014 and second behind White in 2018. Even with a pair of silver medals for his efforts, those results were disappointing to Hirano.

Ahead of the 2022 Beijing Games, learning triple corks was once again in vogue. Several riders were able to successfully land them in training, but only Hirano had landed one in a contest prior to the Olympics.

During Run 1 of the Olympic final, Hirano landed a triple cork but fell later during his run. For Run 2, he landed a complete routine that included the triple cork for the first time in his career, but it didn’t score well enough to take the lead.

Sitting behind Scotty James entering the final run of the contest, Hirano delivered one of the most clutch performances in snowboard halfpipe history, landing a cleaner version of the same, groundbreaking run to jump into the top spot and end his streak of silver medals.

Hirano’s not-so-secret weapon won’t give him the same edge this time — several other snowboarders have learned their own versions of the triple cork — but he could still add to his growing legacy at Milan Cortina 2026.

Get to know the Japanese halfpipe star below with some quick hits about his life and career thus far.

Where is Ayumu Hirano from?

Hirano was born and raised in the coastal town of Murakami, Japan. His family has a strong connection to Murakami, as his parents opened a surf shop and built a skate park there.

How old is Ayumu Hirano?

Hirano was born on Nov. 29, 1998 and will be 27 at the time of the Milan Cortina Games.

When did Ayumu Hirano start snowboarding?

Because Hirano grew up in a coastal town, he was exposed to surfing at a very young age, but he ultimately gravitated toward skateboarding and then snowboarding. He began snowboarding around age 4, and his parents would often drive several hours on weekends to take him to the mountains.

What other sports does Ayumu Hirano compete in?

While Hirano predominantly is known for his snowboarding, he is also an accomplished skateboarder. In 2019, he won his first Japanese national skateboarding title.

What Olympics has Ayumu Hirano competed in?

As a snowboarder, Hirano has competed in halfpipe at the last three Winter Olympics (Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, Beijing 2022). He made his Olympic debut at age 15, becoming the youngest male snowboarder to ever compete at the Winter Games.

In 2021, Hirano joined an exclusive list of athletes who have competed at both the Summer and Winter Olympics, as he qualified for the skateboard park event at the Tokyo Games. Of all the athletes to ever compete in both Games, he is the only snowboarder or skateboarder on that list.

How many Olympic medals has Ayumu Hirano won?

Hirano has won a medal in all three of his Winter Olympic appearances. After scoring back-to-back silver medals at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018, he broke through at Beijing 2022 for his first gold medal. During the final, Hirano, taking the final run of the contest, put down a clutch run, which included a triple cork, to overtake Scotty James.

In his lone Summer Olympic appearance, Hirano placed 14th in skateboard park at Tokyo 2020.

What makes Ayumu Hirano one of the best halfpipe snowboarders in the world?

Ever since he broke onto the scene as a teenager, Hirano has been one of the riders at the forefront of learning the sport’s hardest tricks — he's one of the few riders currently capable of landing triple corks — but what also helps set him apart is his amplitude. Hirano routinely goes higher than his competitors when he boosts out of the halfpipe and into the air, leading to exciting runs that score well with the judges.

What has Ayumu Hirano won outside the Olympics?

A lot. Hirano’s won X Games, Laax Open, Burton U.S. Open and Dew Tour titles throughout his career, alongside other, smaller events. Although his participation in FIS World Cup events has been somewhat sporadic, he did win a Crystal Globe in 2022 as the season champion for halfpipe. His X Games career has netted him two gold medals and five total medals since his debut in 2013.

What records or milestones has Ayumu Hirano set?

In 2014, Hirano (age 15) overtook Scotty James as the youngest male snowboarder to ever compete at the Winter Olympics. By winning a silver medal at those Games, Hirano also became:

• the youngest snowboarder to win an Olympic medal
• the youngest male athlete from any sport to win a Winter Olympic medal in 50 years
• the youngest Japanese athlete to win a Winter Olympic medal

Entering Milan Cortina 2026, his three Olympic snowboarding medals are tied with 10 other athletes for the most all time.

Hirano's also made history with his halfpipe tricks. Shortly before the 2018 PyeongChang Games, he became the first snowboarder to land back-to-back double cork 1440s during a halfpipe run. He set another major milestone in December 2021 when he became the first snowboarder to land a triple cork during a halfpipe contest.

How has Ayumu Hirano performed in recent seasons?

Since the last Winter Olympics, Hirano has traded wins with the other top riders and remained a consistent podium presence. He competed in six events last season, winning one (December’s U.S. Grand Prix at Copper Mountain) and finishing on the podium in all but one of the others.

What tricks is Ayumu Hirano known for?

The frontside triple cork 1440 has become a staple of Hirano’s contest runs since he debuted that trick in December 2021. Massive amplitude is another hallmark of his runs, which has been the case since the very start of his career.

What is Ayumu Hirano’s medal outlook for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics?

At the time of the last Olympics, Ayumu was the only rider who had the triple cork on lock, giving him a major edge on his competitors. But now that the other top riders in the field have all learned that trick, the playing field is more level heading into these Games.

Based on recent results, Scotty James, with his arsenal of highly technical tricks, is arguably positioned as the slight favorite for gold. But Ayumu and two of his compatriots, Ruka Hirano and Yuto Totsuka, aren’t far behind. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see any of the “Big Four” leave Livigno with the gold medal.

Ayumu Hirano has a tendency to go big on every hit, as seen here during last year's Laax Open.

FIS (International Ski Federation)

Who is Ayumu Hirano’s brother?

Ayumu has a younger brother, Kaishu Hirano, who also competes in snowboard halfpipe. Kaishu joined Ayumu in competing at the 2022 Winter Olympics, where he placed 9th and set a world record for the highest backside air in a halfpipe.

It should be noted that Ruka Hirano, one of the top riders in the field and one of Ayumu’s biggest challengers for gold, is not related to Ayumu.

What are some fun facts about Ayumu Hirano?

• Hirano revealed in March 2025 that he has become a father. “I feel like I have to do it right to leave my legacy for this child’s future,” he told the Associated Press. “I’m fortunate to continue doing things I love, and I feel that I can keep on competing, not just with my own will but with my family. The family has become the source of my energy.”
• Hirano was in 4th grade when he signed his first endorsement deal
• Hirano studied sports science at Nihon University in Tokyo

How many followers does Ayumu Hirano have on Instagram?

As of October 2025, Hirano has over 716,000 followers on Instagram, where he posts a lot of highlights and other content from the various snowboard contests he enters.

Learn more about the snowboarders and freeskiers set to compete at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics.