Ren Nikaido Nabs Silver in the Men's Large Hill Final

Ski jumper Ren Nikaido received Team Japan's 15th medal of the Milan Cortina Olympics, placing second in the men's large hill final in Predazzo, Italy.

On Saturday night, February 14, the Hokkaido Prefecture native was in first place after the first round with 154.0 points. He flew 140.0 meters to soar into medal contention.

Nikaido then traveled 136.5 meters in the air in the final round, with his score dropping to 141.0 points for his last attempt (ninth among the 30 entrants). But the 24-year-old's combined score was good enough to earn him the silver medal with 295.0 points.

He was the final jumper in the final round, giving him a shot at capturing the gold medal with a dramatic conclusion.

"I'm mad at myself and I'm very disappointed that I couldn't win the gold medal," Nikaido said, according to The Associated Press.

Slovenia's Domen Prevc, the dominant athlete on the FIS Ski Jumping World Cup circuit in the 2025-26 season with 11 wins in large hill competitions, won the gold with 301.8 points.

Prevc climbed from second place to first with a final-round mark of 141.5 meters, a record-setting distance at Predazzo Ski Jumping Stadium that secured him 154.8 points.

What was Prevc's mindset before his final jump?

"I was just here to play and enjoy it, have fun," he was quoted as saying by The Associated Press.

Prevc added, "I was like, 'Do your thing, do your best, enjoy the jump and feel the air.' "

Poland's Kacper Tomasiak placed third with 284.5 points.

*Slovenia's Domen Prevc reacts after winning the gold medal. (©Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS)*

Success for Team Japan in Ski Jumping

For the second consecutive Winter Olympics, a Japanese ski jumper was the runner-up in the men's large hill. Ryoyu Kobayashi, who finished sixth on Valentine's Day, earned the silver at the Beijing Games.

At the 2026 Olympics, Japan has produced impressive results in ski jumping competitions. In addition to a silver in the large hill competition, Nikaido also claimed bronze in the normal hill event, tying Switzerland's Gregor Deschwanden for third on February 9.

"What was most important was that I focused on enjoying these [Winter] Games and that's what led to the medals," Nikaido told reporters. "So of course I was nervous and felt the pressure but I think I was able to enjoy this Olympics."

In the mixed ski jumping event, Japan's squad (Nozomi Maruyama, Kobayashi, Sara Takanashi and Nikaido) placed third on February 10.

And Maruyama was Japan's first medalist of the 2026 Games, finishing third in the women's normal hill final on February 7.

Frustration for Ren Nikaido

Although he booked a place on the podium for Saturday's victory ceremony, Nikaido experienced mixed emotions after one of the biggest nights of his athletic career.

"I'm still feeling so disappointed that I can't really congratulate myself on winning the medals," Nikaido said candidly, according to Kyodo News. "But winning medals in three consecutive events is something that would have been impossible for me four years ago. So I'll keep telling myself that, praise myself, and focus on the super team competition."

*Ryoyu Kobayashi competes in the men's normal hill final. (©SANKEI)*

Kobayashi Falls Short in Medal Quest

After Saturday's first round, Kobayashi was in 11th place (134.9 points). He traveled 131.0 meters on that attempt.

The medal hopeful improved his score to 149.6 in the second round. His mark of 138.5 meters was second-best in the final round, trailing only Prevc's.

Kobayashi completed the event with 284.5 points, a disappointing result for the ski jumper who won the Olympic normal hill title in 2022.

"I haven't been able to deliver performances I have been totally satisfied with here [so far]," Kobayashi said, according to Kyodo News.

He then said, "I put it all out there on my last jump … it's difficult."

Japan's Naoki Nakamura placed 16th (257.2). He was 29th at the previous Olympics.