Sport - Issuu

from The Wanaka Sun I Edition 1065 I 10th - 16th February 2022

Zoi’s finest hour

It’s not every sport which sees the winner mobbed by the athletes she has just beaten.

Or one which prompts calls for a parade in Wānaka.

But when Julia Marino and Tess Coady saw Zoi Sadowski-Synnott’s final women’s snowboard slopestyle effort, they knew it was the golden run.

As the judges totalled up a stunning score of 92.88, Wānaka’s golden girl was submerged under a group hug involving all three medallists.

At home, family and friends were part of the live showing on Sky TV as they watched, then celebrated as the 20-year-old collected New Zealand’s first winter Olympic gold.

Queenstown Lakes District Mayor Jim Boult, who was on the phone to Zoi after the race, told the Wānaka Sun this week that a parade to celebrate the efforts of Zoi and the New Zealand team – many are based in the district – was something to consider.

“I’m sure Council would be very happy to work with the New Zealand Olympic Committee and Snow Sports NZ on a homecoming parade in Wānaka. I share the community’s immense pride in what Zoi has achieved and look forward to cheering her and her teammates on as they compete during the rest of the Games,” he said.

Cool Wakushima and Tiarn Collins also competed in the women’s and men’s snowboard slopestyle respectively. Collins finished 18th and Wakushima 23rd – she went into the event with an injury which was aggravated when she had a further fall, preventing her from making a final run.

Wānaka’s Campbell Wright, who faces a busy schedule, underlined his growing stature, finishing inside the top half of a 90-plus field in his first outing on Tuesday night our time. Tomorrow: 9pm: Alpine Skiing (Super G - Women) with Alice Robinson Saturday: 10pm: Skating - Speed (10000m - Men) with Peter Michael Sunday: 3pm: Biathlon (10km Sprint - Men) with Campbell Wright 11.45pm: Freestyle Skiing (Slopestyle - Women) with Margaux Hackett 11.45pm: Biathlon (12.5km Pursuit - Men) with Campbell Wright Monday: 2:30pm: Freestyle Skiing (Slopestyle - Women) with Margaux Hackett

PHOTO: Olympic team

Tiarn Collins was 18th in the snowboard slopestyle. Winners – Synnott-Sadowski with America’s Julia Marino and Australian Tess Coady.

What they said...

“I am in absolute disbelief, it means so much to me to win New Zealand’s first Winter Olympic gold, it makes me super proud to be a Kiwi.”

– Zoi Sadowski-Synnott

“Watching Zoi win New Zealand’s first ever Winter Olympic Gold medal was a truly indescribable moment, I couldn’t be more stoked for Zoi. Her achievement is something the whole of Wānaka can be proud of and it will inspire snow sports athletes and women in sport for years to come.”

– Britt Hawkes,

Communications Manager, Snow Sport NZ

“I had the honour of being there in person to see Zoi win bronze at the PyeongChang Olympic Games four years ago in the Big Air Event at only 16 years old. Since then she has gone from strength to strength to be one of the best snowboarders in the world."

– Grant Robertson,

Deputy Prime Minister "Zoi is one of my best mates. I am so incredibly hyped for her. She deserved that win.

– Australian bronze medallist Tess Coady

"I'm just ecstatic. She pulled it out of the bag, she's a competitor obviously under so much stress I guess after that fall but she pulled it through."