Kokomo Murase wins gold in women's big air, extending Japan's snowboarding success at the Olympics

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Japanese snowboarder Kokomo Murase won Olympic gold in women’s big air on Monday, two days after her teammates swept the top two medals in the men’s event.

Murase had already locked up at least a bronze medal at the Milan Cortina Games when she went for broke on her last jump and nailed it to move to the top of the standings. She added the gold medal to her bronze from the same event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand repeated as silver medalist. She had been on the cusp of taking gold until Murase soared in front with the penultimate jump of the competition.

Eighteen-year-old Seung-eun Yu of South Korea claimed bronze. She had a chance to even improve on that position with the last jump of the day, but she fell on her landing.

On Saturday, Japanese teammates Kira Kimura and Ryoma Kimata won gold and silver, respectively, in men’s big air.

Japan’s depth of talent in snowboarding was also evident in both the women’s and men’s events, where the team placed four riders in each 12-person final, more than any other nation.

And more snowboarding medals could come to Japan in the Italian Alps. Murase will also compete in the snowboarding slopestyle event, while Ayumu Hirano will try to defend his gold medal in men's halfpipe.

Two-time defending champion Anna Gasser finished eighth on Monday, falling short in her bid to become the first snowboarder to win three consecutive Olympic gold medals. She fell on her first jump and had a costly bobble while landing her second.

The 34-year-old Austrian will compete again at the Milan Cortina Games in slopestyle, but she said she took a moment to realize that her Olympic big air career was over.

“I was pretty sad after my second run because I knew my chances for a medal were over and I was like, I needed a second to go up and breathe through and be like, OK, this is it,” Gasser said. “I’m happy to pass on the crown, the big crown to Kokomo.

“She really deserves it and, yeah, crazy to see how far the sport has come in the last years.”

The big air final also showcased a leap forward in the daring exploits these snowboarders are taking.

Murase, Sadowski-Synnott and Yu all performed extremely difficult jumps featuring 1440 degrees of rotation (three flips with a spin).

Gasser said the tricks she performed to win her gold in 2022 would get you in the final, but no way would they be enough for a medal.

“Women’s snowboarding has been progressing every year, and I even said if you stop progressing, you’re gone,” she said. “It’s really crazy how far the sport has come and I’m excited to watch it in four years."

Sadowski-Synnott received a traditional haka tribute from her New Zealand team after the awards ceremony. It was her third Olympic medal in big air after also earning bronze at age 16 at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

She became the first New Zealander to win a gold at the 2022 Winter Games when she triumphed in women’s slopestyle.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Gold medalist Japan's Kokomo Murase celebrates winning the women's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

From left, silver medalist New Zealand's Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, gold medalist Japan's Kokomo Murase and bronze medalist South Korea's Yu Seung-eun hold their medals after the women's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Britain's Mia Brookes reacts during the women's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Japan's Kokomo Murase competes during the women's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Japan's Kokomo Murase competes during the women's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

Japan's Kokomo Murase reacts during the women's snowboarding big air finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Savannah Guthrie said her family is at their “hour of desperation” in the search for their apparently kidnapped mother, but made no mention of possible ransom in a new video released Monday just hours before a ransom deadline.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. AP’s earlier story follows below.

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities investigating the apparent kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie returned to her Arizona neighborhood several times over the weekend, ahead of a Monday evening deadline set by her purported abductors who sent ransom notes demanding money for her return.

The investigation into what happened to the mother of “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie entered a second week with still no word on whether the 84-year-old is still alive.

Savannah Guthrie said over the weekend that the family was prepared to pay for her mother’s return.

“We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her,” she said in a video posted Saturday. “This is the only way we will have peace. This is very valuable to us, and we will pay.”

The mysterious disappearance and search has riveted the U.S. — from President Donald Trump who spoke with Savannah Guthrie last week to the online sleuths who’ve flooded social media with tips, theories and rumors.

Authorities believe Nancy Guthrie was taken against her will from her home just outside Tucson. She was last seen there on Jan. 31 and reported missing the next day after not attending church services. DNA tests showed blood on Guthrie’s front porch was a match to her and her doorbell camera was disconnected in the early hours of Sunday morning, Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos has said.

Outside the home on Monday, neighbors strolled by on their morning jogs and walks, while a county sheriff's deputy remained stationed out front.

Detectives and agents carried out follow-up work at multiple locations over the weekend as part of the investigation, the Pima County Sheriff’s Department said Sunday. “Investigators have not identified any suspects, persons of interest, or vehicles connected to this case,” the department said.

Investigators on Saturday were inside daughter Annie Guthrie’s home, about 4 miles (6 kilometers) from Nancy Guthrie's house. On Sunday, an investigator was seen using a pole to search an underground tank behind Nancy Guthrie’s home.

Multiple press outlets have received alleged ransom letters during the past week. At least one letter made monetary demands and set deadlines for receiving the money. The first deadline passed last Thursday but a second one was set for Monday.

Law enforcement officials declined to affirm that the letters were credible but said all tips were being investigated seriously.

Authorities say they have growing concerns about Nancy Guthrie’s health because she needs daily medication. She is said to have a pacemaker and has dealt with high blood pressure and heart issues, according to sheriff’s dispatcher audio on broadcastify.com.

A person walks a dog as members of the Pima County sheriffs office remains outside of Nancy Guthrie's home, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

A member of the Pima County sheriffs office remains outside of Nancy Guthrie's home, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

FILE - This image provided by the Pima County Sheriff's Department on Feb. 2, 2026, shows a missing person alert for Nancy Guthrie. (Pima County Sheriff's Department via AP, File)

A member of the Pima County sheriffs office stands by his truck looking at Nancy Guthrie‘s house, Monday, Feb. 9, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Nancy Guthrie’s home in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)

Lit candles next to a sign from neighbors supporting the Guthrie family outside of Nancy Guthrie’s house in the early morning hours of Sunday, Feb. 8, 2026 in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ty ONeil)