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Illustration - Vin Gironde

FRANCE. GIRONDE (33) MEDOC. CORKS IN LIEGE Photo by Jean-Bernard Nadeau/Only France/ABACAPRESS.COM

Hutsul Land Ethnopark in Bukovel ski resort

IVANO-FRANKIVSK REGION, UKRAINE - JANUARY 31, 2025 - A wreath made of corks is displayed at the Hutsul Land Ethnopark in the Bukovel ski resort, Ivano-Frankivsk region, western Ukraine.(Photo by Yurii Rylchuk/Ukrinform)

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Olympics: Ayumu Hirano wins men's snowboard Olympic gold for Japan

Ayumu Hirano wrote his name in Japanese sporting history on Friday when he won the country's first-ever snowboard Olympic gold medal, taking the men's halfpipe title at the Beijing Games. Hirano scored 96.00 points in his third run with a spectacular display that included a triple cork 1440, enough to separate him from Australian Scotty James who finished in the silver position with 92.50 at Genting Snow Park. Hirano won snowboard halfpipe silver at the 2014 and 2018 Games, then switched to skateboard and qualified for the Tokyo Olympics before this triumphant return to his roots. "It hasn't sunk in yet but finally one of my childhood dreams has come true," said Hirano. "I couldn't end without getting this one, I gave everything." "Having been able to deliver my run was most satisfying thing, since that was my goal," said Ayumu, after nailing triple corks in all of his runs.