Snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott says she was “a lot more nervous than usual” heading into her silver medal-winning performance at the Winter Olympics, revealing she has been competing with bone bruising in her knee.
Sadowski-Synnott finished the women’s big air snowboarding competition at the Italian Olympics this week with 172.25 points,winning a silver medal – her second in Big Air and her third Olympic medal overall.
Japan’s Murase Kokomo – the 2022 bronze medallist and second-to-last rider – surged ahead in the final run to claim gold with 179.00, while South Korea’s Seungeun Yu took bronze with 171.00.
Speaking to Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hoskinga day after her win, Sadowski-Synnott said the pressure on Olympic athletes “is pretty immense”, but it’s something she’s learnt to deal with over time.
“Coming into these Olympics, I had bone bruising in my knee that happened three months ago and have still been dealing with ... but I also didn’t get the prep that I quite wanted," she said.
“I was really grateful to have an experience where I had to deal with that and try and work through it, and put it down when it mattered.”
The silver is Zoi Sadowski-Synnott's third Olympic medal at age 24. Photo / Photosport
Earlier this month, Sadowski-Synnott spoke to the Herald about bouncing back to the fore to qualify for this year’s Winter Olympics after fracturing her talus at the end of 2023.
The 24-year-old stepped aside for much of the 2024 season to focus on recovery, although the period was more protracted than she had hoped.
“The injury, it was definitely a tough one mentally and physically, but it gave me so much perspective and gratitude to be here doing what I’m doing. I’m really lucky to have this opportunity,” she said.
“It’s been a really good year and all the build-up to this next coming one, so I’m really excited.”
Sadowski-Synnott told Newstalk ZB this year’s New Zealand squad was “the best Winter Olympics team we’ve had yet”, and gave a special mention to the legions of Kiwi supporters in Italy cheering them on.
“We have a really good team culture … pretty much most of the teams are from or live in Wānaka, which is pretty insane,” she said.
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott celebrates landing her second run in the women’s snowboard big air finals. Photo / Photosport
“We’re just feeding off each other’s energies and getting inspired by each other.”
“It was really nice to congratulate him. I’m so stoked for him. He’s such a weapon and super well deserving,” she said.
The three-time medallist is now priming her focus towards defending her reigning title in the women’s slopestyle competition next week.
Sadowski-Synnott won gold in the slopestyle at Beijing 2022, where she also became the first Kiwi in history to win multiple medals at the Winter Olympics.
“Slopestyle is my favourite event because you get to show more of my snowboarding,” she said.
