After winning the silver medal in the men's slopestyle on Feb 7, China's Su Yiming hugged champion Max Parrott and bronze-medal winner Mark McMorris, before the three posed for a group photograph, hands on each other's shoulders.

In an interview with Xinhua, the 17-year-old Su saluted his two rivals, both of Canada, describing them as his idols and heroes.

When reporters relayed Su's words to McMorris, the three-time Olympian responded: "It's amazing to be an idol of someone really special."

"Su is a true snowboarder. I will say he has a bright future and I am proud of him," McMorris said.