In February 2018 twenty-one New Zealand athletes competed at the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.
The Games were New Zealand’s most successful Olympic Winter Games ever. The New Zealand Team athletes earned two bronze medals, three fourths, a fifth and six Olympic Diplomas (top eight finish) over 17 days and 35 events.
Games Highlights
February 9th – The New Zealand Team is led into the PyeongChang 2018 Opening Ceremony by flagbearer Beau-James Wells. 27 athletes and support staff members marched in the outdoor ceremony where temperatures were around -5 degrees Celsius.
February 11th - Snowboarder Carlos Garcia Knight finished fifth in the men’s Slopestyle. The 20-year-old came tantalisingly close to a podium finish and led the field after the first run.
February 11th - Speed skater Peter Michael placed fourth in the men’s 5000m speed skating at Gangneung Oval. The Kiwi was fast off the start line, before dropping back in the middle section and then rallying for an impressive finish in which he recorded the fastest last lap.
February 16th – Athlete Rhys Thornbury who captured the nation’s attention by competing in the sport of skeleton, entered his final day of competition with a shot at winning an Olympic medal. Thornbury was in 7th place until disaster struck right at the start of the fourth and final heat. A slip and Thornbury’s sled ‘popping the groove’ had him out of contention for a top result, the Kiwi finishing 14th overall.
February 16th - New Zealand’s youngest ever winter Olympian, 16-year-old Alice Robinson competes in alpine ski racing. Robinson is born eight days after team mate Nico Porteous.
February 21st - Speed skaters Peter Michael, Reyon Kay and Shane Dobbin finish fourth in the Team Pursuit. The trio faced the Netherlands in the bronze medal race but finished 5-seconds behind the Dutch.
February 22nd - Wanaka sixteen-year-old Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins the bronze medal in the women’s snowboard Big Air to become New Zealand’s first Olympic Winter Games medallist in 26 years.
February 22nd – Nico Porteous wins bronze in the men’s freeski halfpipe just hours after Sadowski-Synnott’s win. The Wanaka 16-year-old becomes New Zealand’s youngest ever Olympic medal winner.
February 22nd – New Zealand Team flagbearer Beau-James Wells places fourth in the freeski halfpipe.
February 25th - Zoi Sadowski-Synnott is named the New Zealand Team flagbearer for the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games. Teammate Nico Porteous leads the New Zealand delegation into the ceremony.
