NZ's Zoi Sadowski-Synnott Tops Olympics Big Air Qualifying
New Zealand snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott dominated Olympic qualifying with a massive 90-point opening run. The 24-year-old is now one step closer to completing her set of Olympic medals after bronze in 2018 and silver in 2022.
New Zealand's Zoi Sadowski-Synnott just made a powerful statement at her third Winter Olympics, and it involved three and a half spins through the air.
The 24-year-old snowboarder qualified first for Tuesday's big air final after landing a jaw-dropping switch backside 1260 on her very first jump. Her opening run earned a whopping 90 points, catapulting her straight to the top of the leaderboard.
Sadowski-Synnott was only the second athlete to drop in on the 40-meter ramp, but she didn't hold back. The technical trick featured three and a half rotations, executed so cleanly that none of the 40 competitors who followed could knock her from first place.
She added an 82.25 on her second run for a combined score of 172.25, finishing just one point ahead of Japan's Kokomo Murase. Great Britain's Mia Brookes rounded out the top three qualifiers.
The stakes are personal for Sadowski-Synnott. She's chasing gold to complete her Olympic medal collection after winning bronze at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and silver at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
"I was a bit nervous coming into tonight, I'm not going to lie," she told Sky Sport after qualifying. "It feels like even more competition when you've got the full field."
Why This Inspires
What makes this moment so compelling isn't just the athletic achievement. It's watching someone methodically pursue excellence across nearly a decade of competition, learning from each Olympics and returning stronger.
Sadowski-Synnott also qualified first in 2022 before being edged out in the final by two-time defending champion Anna Gasser. This time, Gasser qualified in ninth place, showing just how competitive the field has become.
The young Kiwi showed remarkable composure under pressure, sticking her landing when it mattered most. Her focus is already shifting to the final, where she plans to execute tricks she's been preparing specifically for this moment.
New Zealand will be watching Tuesday morning when Sadowski-Synnott gets her shot at Olympic gold.
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Based on reporting by Stuff NZ
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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