Zoi Sadowski-Synnott Secures Silver in Women’s Snowboard Slopestyle

New Zealand’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott clinched a silver medal in the women’s Snowboard Slopestyle final at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy. Her impressive final run captivated viewers, adding to New Zealand’s medal tally, which now stands at three in these Games.

Sadowski-Synnott’s journey to the podium included a remarkable comeback. After finishing first in the qualifying round, she entered the final run as the last competitor among 12 women. She began strong, scoring 73.01 in her first attempt, which initially placed her third, despite an early mishap on one of the rails. In her second run, she scored 77.61, but slipped to fourth after a similar early fall.

The 24-year-old athlete turned the competition around in her final attempt, executing a flawless run that earned her a score of 87.48. This impressive performance secured her second place, narrowly missing gold by just 0.35 points, which went to Mari Fukada of Japan. This victory marks Sadowski-Synnott’s fifth Olympic medal, enhancing her status as one of New Zealand’s top winter sports athletes.

Challenges and Companions

The competition faced delays due to heavy snowfall, which postponed the event originally scheduled for Tuesday. In the men’s Snowboard Slopestyle final, Dane Menzies from Wanaka also competed but finished outside the medal standings. Menzies, who had topped the qualifiers, began with a solid score of 76.10 in his first run. Unfortunately, he fell to fifth place after a disappointing score of 21.03 in his second run. In his final attempt, he scored 34.61, resulting in a seventh-place finish, just shy of the top three by three points.

The men’s event was ultimately won by Su Yiming of China, who achieved a top score of 82.41.

New Zealand’s performance at the Milano Cortina Games has been noteworthy, with three medals secured thus far. Luca Harrington previously brought home a bronze in the men’s Freestyle Skiing Slopestyle event. Sadowski-Synnott’s silver in the Snowboard Big Air event earlier in the Games further highlights her talent and determination.

With these results, New Zealand continues to make its mark in winter sports, showcasing the skills of its athletes on an international stage.