Mia Brookes Overcomes Nerve-Wracking Start to Qualify for Winter Olympics Big Air Final
Nineteen-year-old Mia Brookes, one of Team GB's brightest gold medal prospects for the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, secured her place in the Big Air final with a flawless second run after a tense beginning to her qualification campaign.
The young snowboarder from Cheshire recorded a total score of 167 on a freezing night at Livigno Snow Park, finishing third overall to guarantee her spot among the final twelve competitors who will battle for gold on Monday.
Dramatic Recovery After Early Setback
Competing ninth out of twenty-nine athletes, Brookes faced immediate pressure after miscontrolling her landing on the initial jump and falling to the snow. This disappointing performance earned her a mere 29.75 points, placing her in a precarious 24th position early in the competition.
With each snowboarder's two best scores from three runs counting toward qualification, and only the top twelve athletes progressing, Brookes needed perfection on her remaining attempts to keep her Olympic dreams alive.
Stunning Second Run Turns the Tide
The teenager responded magnificently to the challenge, executing an astonishing backside 1260 melon grab on her second attempt that earned her 89.00 points - the second highest score of the entire evening. This remarkable performance propelled her to eighth place overall and completely transformed her qualification prospects.
After successfully completing the jump, Brookes raced over to embrace her parents, Nigel and Vicky, at the barrier, beaming with relief and excitement at having revived her chances of reaching the final.
Securing Qualification with Final Run
Although Brookes couldn't improve on her spectacular second-run score with her third attempt - a slightly more conservative cab 1060 stalefish that earned 78.00 points - this was more than sufficient to elevate her into the top twelve and secure her place in Monday's final.
Her celebration was characteristically enthusiastic, as she once again rushed toward her parents, though she initially went the wrong direction and had to jump a fence to reach them.
Brookes Reflects on the Pressure and Performance
"That was insane, honestly," Brookes said afterward. "I loved it. Every minute was awesome, but definitely quite scary. After that first run, I was so nervous. You just have to take your time at the top, not rush into anything."
When asked about the immense pressure to deliver an exceptional second run, she explained: "I think it really came out of me in an athlete way, just keeping cool under the pressure, not really making any rash decisions or rushing anything, so it was nice to see that coming from inside myself."
Regarding her final qualifying jump, she added: "That third one was special to land that one. You're definitely in the air, thinking about it in the back of your mind, spinning, like, oh, my God, I've got to land this. So it was really special."
Unique Preparation and Team GB Context
The young athlete is known for her distinctive approach to competition preparation, listening to heavy metal music from bands like Metallica, Megadeth, Pantera, and Judas Priest to "block out the noise" and focus before her runs.
Unfortunately, fellow British competitor Maisie Hill failed to qualify, scoring only 20 points after falling on her first run and unable to improve sufficiently with subsequent attempts.
Brookes' Impressive Credentials and Dual Medal Chance
Brookes represents one of Britain's strongest medal hopes in Milano-Cortina, with opportunities to compete for gold in both Big Air and slopestyle events. She enters the Olympics as the reigning X Games slopestyle champion, having secured that title for the second time just last month, while also earning a bronze medal in Big Air to reinforce her status as a leading contender.
Her competitive record this season includes victory in the only Big Air World Cup event she entered in Beijing during December, along with consecutive World Cup crystal globes in the discipline during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
Team GB's 'Magic Monday' Prospects
Hopes are building for what has been dubbed a 'Magic Monday' for Team GB, particularly in snowsports, with both Brookes and freestyle skier Kirsty Muir in action. The twenty-one-year-old Scottish athlete Muir has qualified third for the freeski slopestyle and represents another genuine medal contender.
"I've grown up with Kirsty," Brookes noted. "We've known each other since we were younger, so to go into an Olympic final on the same day as her for Great Britain is really special."
Additionally, British curlers Jen Dodds and Bruce Mouat have the opportunity to guarantee a medal in the mixed doubles competition with a victory in their semi-final match against Sweden in Cortina. The pair enter as top seeds, having lost just one of their nine round-robin matches.
