Sadowski-Synnott wins Olympic athlete of the year

Zoi Sadowski Synnott celebrates her gold medal success in Beijing.
Photo: Photosport

Snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has won the New Zealand Olympic Committee’s athlete of the year award, after becoming the country’s first Winter Olympic gold medallist.

She was presented with the Lonsdale Cup in Wanaka on Wednesday – the first winter sport athlete to achieve the honour.

The 21 year old snowboarder won gold and silver at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, in the slopestyle and big air events respectively.

“I’m stoked to be receiving this award. Looking at some of the names on this trophy makes it pretty real just how much history there is behind this award and just how special this is,” she said.

Zoi Sadowski Synnott in the women’s snowboarding big air finals where she won silver.
Photo: Photosport

The medal wins in Beijing followed on from her success at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games where she won bronze in the big air.

Sadowski-Synnott has had a decorated career so far.

She has won two gold medals and two silvers and is the current Snowboard Slopestyle World Champion.

At the invite only Winter X Games she has won four golds, two silvers and a bronze.

The Lonsdale Cup was first awarded in 1961, with Sir Murray Halberg the inaugural recipient.

Past winners include Dame Valerie Adams, Dame Lisa Carrington, Sir John Walker, Barbara Kendall, and Sir Peter Snell.

-RNZ