Sena Tomita wins bronze in women’s halfpipe, Japan’s 1st medal in event

The Yomiuri Shimbun

14:37 JST, February 10, 2022

BEIJING — Sena Tomita became the first Olympic medalist from Japan in the women’s halfpipe, taking the bronze at the Beijing Winter Games on Thursday.

Her score of 88.25 was only 2 points behind Queralt Castellet of Spain, who took silver. They were both bested by Chloe Kim, the American who defended her halfpipe gold from the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics. Kim scored a 94.00 on her first run at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, northwest of Beijing in Hebei Province.

Ruki Tomita, the younger sister of Sena Tomita, fell in her first and second runs, but placed fifth with a score of 80.50 on her third and final run.

Mitsuki Ono, who had the top score in Wednesday’s qualification runs, finished ninth with a score of 71.50.