Zoi Sadowski-Synnott Wins Silver at Milano-Cortina Games

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott proved why she's one of winter sports' most resilient competitors, landing silver in the women's Snowboard Big Air final at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Olympics after stumbling on her opening attempt.

The Wānaka native stayed calm under pressure, nailing her second and third runs to climb the leaderboard before Japan's Kokomo Murase edged her out for gold. It's Sadowski-Synnott's third Olympic Big Air medal, adding to her 2022 silver and 2018 bronze.

"Zoi proved once again she is both an extraordinary athlete and experienced competitor," said Snow Sports NZ Chief Executive Nic Cavanagh. "Today she faced the best in the world and made New Zealand proud yet again."

The silver adds to Sadowski-Synnott's already impressive Olympic legacy. She made history in 2022 as New Zealand's first Winter Olympic gold medallist in women's Slopestyle, and won her first Olympic medal at just 16 years old in 2018.

New Zealand's success extended beyond Sadowski-Synnott's podium finish. Three men advanced to the Snowboard Big Air final, with Dane Menzies placing sixth, Lyon Farrell eighth, and Rocco Jamieson ninth.

"Doing it together, full team, it's something really special," Jamieson said after competing alongside his teammates in front of an electric crowd.

In freeski Slopestyle, Ben Barclay and Luca Harrington qualified for the men's final under sunny, calm conditions at Livigno Snow Park. Ruby Star Andrews competed just three months after dislocating her hip, posting two clean runs in her Olympic debut.

The Ripple Effect

New Zealand's winter sports program has transformed from underdog to powerhouse in less than a decade. Sadowski-Synnott's continued excellence at age 24 inspires a new generation of Kiwi athletes, seven of whom competed across multiple disciplines in Livigno. The nation's investment in snow sports has created pathways for young athletes from Wānaka to Wellington, proving that geographic size doesn't limit Olympic dreams.

With finals still to come in men's freeski Slopestyle and women's Big Air, New Zealand's medal count could grow even more before the Games conclude.