Winter Olympics: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claims silver in women’s snowboard big air final

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott turned pressure into silver under the bright lights of the Livigno Snow Park.

A two-time big air Olympic medalist, the 24-year-old went to Italy looking to make it three from as many appearances and, as the top qualifier in the 12-strong field, there were plenty of expectations on what the Kiwi star might produce.

But things got off to a less-than-ideal start when, on her first run, Sadowski-Synnott could not ride out while other top qualifiers Mia Brookes, Kokomo Murase and Seungeun Yu all dropped 80-plus scores.

But in the big air final, you only need two to count.

With a second run score of 88.75 for a backside triple-cork 1440 (four full rotations while going off-axis three times), Sadowski-Synnott put herself right back into the contest, before a switch backside 1260 (three-and-a-half rotations) earned her an 83.50 score.

“I gave the back triple a go in practice and didn’t land it. I just really wanted to feel the jump and going into that first run I was pretty nervous - that [nervousness] where you feel like you can’t even walk so not landing it definitely calmed my nerves a bit because it was like, that’s the worst thing that can happen,” Sadowski-Synnott told Sky Sport.

“I’m really stoked I was able to put that second run down, then my third run down as well.”

With a 172.25 total, Sadowski-Synnott shot to the top of the leaderboard. However, dropping in fifth for the final run – after the order was adjusted based on the scores of the first two – the Kiwi had to wait to see where that score would place her.

But as her rival competitors went down, Sadowski-Synnott remained untroubled at the top until it came down to the final three – Brookes, Murase and Yu.

Looking to back up her X Games bronze with an Olympic medal, Brookes threw caution to the wind and attempted a backside 1620 (four-and-a-half rotations) but just couldn’t manage to stick the landing.

That ensured a medal for Sadowski-Synnott, but a solid last run from Murase took the Japanese rider to the top of the podium – with the two claiming the same medals they secured in the same event at the X Games a few weeks ago.

“That was amazing and I’ve never been so nervous for a competition before. It’s scary tricks and putting it down when it matters is really hard,” she told Sky Sport.

“I’m just grateful that I was able to put it down and grateful for having my team here supporting me, having my family here supporting me. This just means so much to me.”

The result saw Sadowski-Synnott move to fifth on New Zealand’s all-time Olympic medal list, joining Ellesse Andrews, Dame Valerie Adams and Blyth Tait on four.

It also saw Sadowski-Synnott become the only athlete to medal in every edition of the women’s snowboard big air since it was included in the Olympic programme in 2018. That year, she became New Zealand’s first Winter Games medallist since 1992 with her bronze, before now back-to-back silvers in 2022 and 2026.

“This medal represents all the people who have helped me get here and stay in snowboarding and stay at the highest level. My coaches, my support team, everyone. Physios, everything. As well as my family and friends who support me off the snow as well. This is for all of them.”

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.