The New Zealand Olympic Committee congratulates Zoi Sadowski-Synnott on becoming New Zealand’s first Olympic Winter Games medallist in 26 years, and only second winter medallist in history.
The Wanaka sixteen year old today claimed a bronze medal in the women’s snowboard Big Air at PyeongChang 2018.
"I just wanted to go and land those two tricks in a row and hopefully get a chance on my third run to throw something I’ve never landed before and I did that. in that second jump it was the best I’ve done it before, so I was just so stoked," said Sadowski-Synnott.
Zoi then faced an anxious wait to find out if she'd won a medal.
“I had to wait as I was in third, and there were some heavy hitters and the last girl didn’t quite land and I realised I was in third. It was a pretty pretty crazy feeling when I found out."
New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Kereyn Smith extended her congratulations to Zoi.
“What a fantastic moment for New Zealand and for Zoi. We congratulate her wholeheartedly."1
"At just sixteen years of age, Zoi has shown incredible skill, determination and resilience to make a significant mark on New Zealand sporting history.
"She showed us what she is capable of earlier this week and, today, pulled it all together to perform at the highest level of international sport. She has inspired New Zealanders by winning our second ever Olympic Winter Games medal.
"We warmly congratulate her and thank her for her contribution to New Zealand sport."
Sadowski-Synnott will be presented with her medal at a ceremony in PyeongChang tomorrow (23 February) from 1900h PyeongChang time (NZT 11pm).
About Zoi Sadowski-Synnott
Snowboard slopestyle athelete Zoi Sadowski-Synnott learnt to ski as a pre-schooler and switched to snowboarding at the age of nine, joining in on her older sister's lesson at SnowPark NZ and encouraged by her brothers and dad.
With her family keen to teach her the tricks of the trade, her competitive nature kicked in and Sadowski-Synnott began to enjoy the energy and excitement of event days and the challenge of putting down big tricks in front of a crowd.
At the World Champs in March 2016, Sadowski-Synnott finished fourth in Big Air and claimed a silver medal in slopestyle. She went on to claim World Cup gold in slopestyle in Spindleruv Mlyn two weeks later, and at 16 is the youngest woman to win gold in snowboard slopestyle.
Sadowski-Synnott finished 13th in the women’s snowboard slopestyle at PyeongChang 2018 before winning bronze in the women’s snowboard Big Air.
When she's not on snow, Zoi focuses on schoolwork and loves skating and spending time with friends.
New Zealand's first Olympic Winter Medal was won at Albertville 1992 by Annelise Coberger in Alpine Skiing.
