Kirsty Muir narrowly missed her first Winter Olympic medal, finishing fourth in the women’s Big Air final on March 15, 2024, at Livigno Snow Park. Muir, who had previously placed fourth in the slopestyle final, was edged out of medal contention by Italy’s Flora Tabanelli as she attempted a new trick in a bid to secure a podium spot.
The competition was intense, with Muir battling challenging conditions that delayed the final by over an hour due to strong winds and blizzard conditions. She entered the final eager to capitalize on the absence of Switzerland’s Mathilde Gremaud, the slopestyle champion who withdrew after a training crash. Muir began the event slowly, finishing sixth in the opening round, but surged into contention with a spectacular 1620 on her second jump, scoring 93.0, the third highest of the day.
Muir’s performance showcased her determination and skill, particularly as she sought to reclaim a top-three position. “I knew I really had to go for it,” Muir stated about her third jump. “I went for the 1620 again, but I wanted to get a tail grab in there. I’m really stoked that I went for it. I’ve never tried that before, so just to go and give it a sling, I’m really proud of myself.”
Despite her efforts, Muir fell during her final attempt, which confirmed the gold medal for Canada’s Megan Oldham, who did not need to complete her last jump. Oldham ultimately triumphed over Eileen Gu, the highly publicized Chinese athlete who had been embroiled in controversy with the International Ski Federation regarding training conditions for the halfpipe event.
Muir’s fourth-place finish adds to Great Britain’s tally of near-misses at the Games, marking the fifth fourth-place result so far. Despite the disappointment, Muir reflected positively on her journey back to competition after missing nearly the entire 2024 season due to a serious ACL injury. “It was only a year and a month ago that I came back to competing in the World Cups, and I’ve been so stoked with how I’ve been since then,” she shared.
Her recent silver medal at the Aspen X Games raised expectations for her Olympic performance. Muir expressed appreciation for being part of such a high-level competition, noting the remarkable talent among her peers. “This is the highest level of competition, and I’m stoked to be a part of a competition where the girls are absolutely killing it, and we’re really pushing the sport.”
As the Winter Olympics continue, Kirsty Muir remains a standout figure, demonstrating resilience and ambition, qualities that resonate deeply within the competitive snow sports community.
