If there’s one thing that’s been highlighted by the 2022 Olympic Games it’s that the winter sports community are a supportive lot. It’s not often in sport that your rivals come running up to give you a massive hug right after you’ve knocked them out of gold medal contention – at the Olympic Games no less – but that was exactly what happened in the final of the women’s snowboard slopestyle.
The last competitor to drop, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott was sitting in the silver medal spot, but when she landed the last jump on her third run, even before her score had been posted, it was obvious something special had just happened and it was Julia Marino (literally) leading the charge to congratulate her friend, despite the fact that she had likely just been pushed back into second place.
“It’s what I love about snowboarding,” says Zoi, “that you get more excited when your friends do well than for yourself.”
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We saw the same camaraderie in the qualifying rounds of the men’s freeski big air event, with Kiwi athletes Finn Bilous and Ben Barclay standing shoulder to shoulder in support of one another. Finn had already taken his final run and knew that he had not made the cut for finals; nonetheless, as his teammate and first-time Olympian Ben Barclay faced his own nervous wait at the bottom of the course for his score to come in, Finn was there with him, arm around Ben’s shoulder cheering him on.
Meanwhile, back at NZHQ Wānaka, the Bilous and Barclay families were also standing side by side, supporting one another through the nerve-wracking experience of having to watch their loved ones compete in the biggest competition of their lives from the other side of the world. We caught up with Ben’s mum Kirsty to hear more about what the experience has been like from the families’ perspective.
How have you been enjoying watching the Olympic Games from NZHQ? Can you describe the atmosphere?
We have absolutely loved watching the Olympic Games from NZHQ! The atmosphere across all three bars has been amazing and having our own separate family lounge upstairs has been outstanding and a great way to watch and share both heartbreak and triumphs. It’s been an awesome experience.
Obviously, it's not quite the same as being over in Beijing but what has it meant to you to be able to get together with families of other athletes in a dedicated space and share the experience?
It has been immense. We originally weren’t going to do more than join a private get-together organised by the families for the night before the Olympics started. However, based on that night alone we decided to stay down and we have not regretted a minute of it.
You guys are usually based in Auckland but you’ve decided to stay in Wānaka and at NZHQ for the duration of the Games. What made you change your minds?
We met many people on that first night and were welcomed with open arms. That was very special and the heart-warming welcome we received convinced us that we should change our plans.
Ben put together an amazing three runs in the qualifying rounds for the big air, would it be fair to say you were feeling the nerves? How did the before, during and after play out for you? What was going through your mind?
We were so nervous. This is Ben’s first Olympics. As such we were incredibly nervous, as would Ben have been, and we just wanted him to land his first run. As each run progressed, we were ecstatic and euphoric for Ben. The result didn’t really matter to us.
Finn's parents and brother were also at NZHQ watching, did you help each other calm the nerves? The Bilous family have been through the Olympics once before, did they offer you some wise words?
Absolutely. Emma, Pete and Hank were amazing to us and supported vocally both Ben and Finn. It was an incredible gesture by the Bilous family and as Finn and Ben landed each run it was fantastic to see them supporting each other. Ben has always looked up to Finn and we have always been so appreciative of Finn taking Ben under his wing.
That’s what we call The NZ Team spirit!