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Join our Fantasy SRP league'I’m pretty stoked': Sadowski-Synnott after earning another Olympic podium
Jaxin Daniels • February 11th, 2026 10:12 am
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott with her silver medal in the Women’s Snowboard Big Air Finals at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/Photosport
New Zealand got on the board in Milano-Cortina on Tuesday (NZ time), with Zoi Sadowski-Synnott picking up a silver medal in the women's big air snowboarding - her third consecutive podium at the Winter Olympic Games.
A day after her achievement, Sadowski-Synnott took some time away from celebrating to chat to Sport Nation's Scotty and Izzy on her reflections post-podium.
“I’m pretty stoked,” Sadowski-Synnott said.
“I can’t really believe it, it was super fun. I was pretty scared, but I love snowboarding.”
Olympic medals are nothing new for the Wanaka native.
In 2022, she became New Zealand's first Winter Olympics gold medallist, taking the honours in the women's snowboard slopestyle in Beijing, adding silver to her haul in China to go alongside the big air bronze in Pyeongchang in 2018.
As she stood atop the ramp ahead of her critical final run, Sadowski-Synnott called on the wealth of experience that comes with competing at her third Olympics to manage the pressure of the moment.
“That trick is super scary," Sadowski-Synnott said.
“Standing at the bottom, the nerves kind of left me which was great. I had to lock in and just give it everything I had.
“I’m pretty grateful it worked out."
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott competing in the Big Air final at the 2026 Winter Olympics | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/Photosport
The moment was the culmination of some rigorous preparation, and the result spoke for itself - a clean trick that lifted her into the bronze-medal spot.
“You think about it for four years," Sadowski-Synnott said. “You’re so locked into the process, and then suddenly you’re at the Olympics and you’re thinking about what it would mean to win a medal.
“I try not to think about the worst possible outcome, I try to visualise it going well.”
Heading the leaderboard after her final run, Sadowski-Synnott quickly shifted from athlete to spectator, intently watching her fellow competitors alongside her biggest fans.
“I was pretty keen to watch some snowboarding,” Sadowski-Synnott said.
“Just the relief of landing and running over to my family, giving them a hug and shedding some tears.
“My little cousin said, “you won the gold medal” and I had to say there’s like eight other girls who are so amazing and talented, and anything could happen.
“I just knew Kokomo (Murase) was going to land because she is so tough and such an incredible snowboarder.
“To stand on the steps with her was pretty special.”
Someone else in the family that isn't a stranger to the spotlight is Zoi's father, who was in top supporter form once again.
“I was pretty excited to go get a drink with him after. I’m pretty sure he had a few before, going to, during, and after. He’s just having the time of his life.
“He loves Limoncello."
Sadowski-Synnott wasn't the only Kiwi to claim a medal, with freeskier Luca Harrington securing a bronze medal on Wednesday in the men's freeski slopestyle.
“I can’t be more stoked for Luca," Sadowski-Synnott said.
“He is so deserving of this, such a hard-working guy.
“To see him win an Olympic medal for New Zealand, it was really special and I’m so proud of him.”
Listen to the full interview below:
