Zoi Katherine Sadowski-Synnott MNZM (/ˈzoʊ.i/, born 6 March 2001) is a New Zealand snowboarder, specialising in slopestyle and big air competitions. She won the gold medal in the women's slopestyle and silver in the big air at the 2022 Winter Olympics, becoming New Zealand's first gold medallist and first to win multiple medals at the Winter Olympics.[1] She also won the bronze medal in the women's big air at the 2018 Winter Olympics, and won the women's slopestyle title at the 2019 World Championships.[2]
 Sadowski-Synnott in 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Birth name | Zoi Katherine Sadowski-Synnott | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 6 March 2001 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 57 kg (126 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Snowboarding | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event(s) | Slopestyle Big air | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Early life and family
editSadowski-Synnott was born in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,[3] to a New Zealand father, Sean Synnott, and an American mother, Robin Sadowski. She has four siblings.[4][5][6] She initially grew up in the Sydney suburb of Newport before moving with her family to Wānaka, New Zealand, when she was six years old.[6][3][4] She was educated at Mount Aspiring College.[7]
Career
editSadowski-Synnott won the silver medal in the slopestyle at the 2017 FIS Snowboard World Championships.[8]
She competed for New Zealand at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.[9] She won the bronze medal in the women's big air, becoming only the second New Zealander to win a Winter Olympic medal, after Annelise Coberger who won silver in the women's slalom at the 1992 Winter Olympics.[10] Her big air qualifying saw her become the first woman to successfully land a switch backside 900 (i.e. riding in unnatural stance and performing 2.5 rotations in the backside direction) in competition.[11][12] She also competed in the women's slopestyle, finishing in 13th place.[13]
At age 16 years 353 days, Sadowski-Synnott briefly became New Zealand's youngest ever Olympic medallist, breaking the previous record of 17 years 100 days set by Danyon Loader at the 1992 Summer Olympics. The record was broken later the same day by Nico Porteous at age 16 years 91 days.[14] She was subsequently selected as New Zealand's flag bearer for the 2018 Winter Olympics closing ceremony, becoming the nation's youngest-ever flag bearer.[15]
In January 2019, Sadowski-Synnott claimed the gold medal in the slopestyle event, and the silver in the big air, at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.[16] A month later, she won the gold medal in the slopestyle at the 2019 FIS Snowboard World Championships.[2]
In March 2019, she won the slopestyle event at the US Open in Vail, Colorado, completing the triple crown of the Open title, the X Games gold, and the World Championship title.[17]
In March 2020, she claimed the gold medal in the slopestyle event at the Winter X Games in Hafjell.[18]
In January 2021, she claimed the silver medal in the slopestyle event, and the bronze in the big air, at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.[19] Two months later, she won the gold medal in the slopestyle event at the 2021 FIS Snowboard World Championships.[20]
In December 2021, Sadowski-Synnott claimed victory in the women’s snowboard slopestyle event at the invite-only Winter Dew Tour in Copper Mountain, Colorado.[21] In January 2022, she finished second in the slopestyle event at the U.S. Grand Prix World Cup event in California, USA.[22]
In January 2022, Sadowski-Synnott claimed the gold medal in both the slopestyle event and the big air event at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.[23]
On 6 February 2022, Sadowski-Synnott won the gold medal in the slopestyle event at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. This was New Zealand's first gold medal at the Winter Olympics.[24] Sadowski-Synnott followed up her gold with a silver in the Big air, becoming the first New Zealander to win multiple medals at a Winter Olympics.[25] She was subsequently awarded the Lonsdale Cup for 2022 by the New Zealand Olympic Committee.[26]
In the 2023 New Year Honours, Sadowski-Synnott was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to snow sports.[27] In January 2023, she successfully defended her gold medal in the slopestyle event at the Winter X Games in Aspen, Colorado.[28] In February 2023, she claimed the silver medal in the slopestyle event at the 2023 FIS Snowboard World Championships.[29]
International competitions
edit| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | FIS Snowboard World Championships | Sierra Nevada, Spain | 2nd | Slopestyle | |
| 2017 | FIS Snowboard World Championships | Sierra Nevada, Spain | 4th | Big air | |
| 2018 | Winter Olympics | Pyeongchang, South Korea | 13th | Slopestyle | |
| 2018 | Winter Olympics | Pyeongchang, South Korea | 3rd | Big air | |
| 2019 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2019 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 2nd | Big air | |
| 2019 | FIS Snowboard World Championships | Park City, Utah | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2019 | US Open | Vail, Colorado | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2020 | Winter X Games | Hafjell, Norway | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2021 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 2nd | Slopestyle | |
| 2021 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 3rd | Big air | |
| 2021 | FIS Snowboard World Championships | Aspen, Colorado | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2021 | FIS Snowboard World Championships | Aspen, Colorado | 2nd | Big air | |
| 2021 | Winter Dew Tour | Copper Mountain, Colorado | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2022 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2022 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 1st | Big air | |
| 2022 | Winter Olympics | Beijing, China | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2022 | Winter Olympics | Beijing, China | 2nd | Big air | |
| 2023 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 1st | Slopestyle | |
| 2023 | Winter X Games | Aspen, Colorado | 2nd | Big air | |
| 2023 | FIS Snowboard World Championships | Bakuriani, Georgia | 2nd | Slopestyle |
References
edit- ^ Pearson, Joseph (6 February 2022). "Winter Olympics: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins historic gold for New Zealand in slopestyle". Stuff. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Kiwi snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins world slopestyle title". Stuff. 11 February 2019.
- ^ a b Caldwell, Olivia (22 February 2018). "Zoi Sadowski-Synnott's double wildcat catapults her into NZ Olympic folklore". Stuff.
- ^ a b Rattue, Chris (1 April 2017). "Snowboarding: Olympic star could be rising from snowhere". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 9 February 2018.
- ^ "Sadowski-Synnott family celebrate 'absolutely incredible' win". 1 News. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- ^ a b Cully, Paul (6 February 2022). "'She's amazing': Zoi Sadowski-Synnott stunned family even as a six-year-old, says her dad". Stuff. Retrieved 7 February 2022.
- ^ du Plessis-Allan, Heather (22 February 2018). "Olympic medal a win for Mt Aspiring College". Newstalk ZB. Retrieved 6 August 2021.
- ^ "FIS Freestyle Ski and Snowboarding World Championships 2017 Women's Snowboard Slopestyle Final Results" (PDF). Medias4.fis-ski.com. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
- ^ "Nico Porteous joins brother in team for Winter Olympics, history beckon". Stuff (company). 24 October 2017. Retrieved 25 October 2017.
- ^ "Bronze medal! Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins New Zealand's first Winter Olympics medal since 1992 in Big Air final". The New Zealand Herald. 22 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2018.
- ^ "Women's big air contest means even bigger tricks as sport's progression continues". USA Today.
- ^ "Anna Gasser first ever Olympic big air champion - FIS-SKI". Archived from the original on 25 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ "2018 Winter Olympics: It all goes awry for Kiwi snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott". Stuff. 12 February 2018.
- ^ Norquay, Kevin (22 February 2018). "2018 Winter Olympics: Meet the high-flying 16-year-olds who made New Zealand proud". Stuff. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
- ^ "Zoi Sadowski-Synnott to carry New Zealand flag at closing ceremony". Stuff. 25 February 2018.
- ^ "Gold for Kiwi Zoi Sadowski Synnott after late call up to elite US event". Stuff. 27 January 2019.
- ^ "Zoi Sadowski-Synnott claims snowboarding triple crown with US Open win". Stuff. 2 March 2019.
- ^ "Snowboarding: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins X Games slopestyle gold in Norway". Newshub. 9 March 2020.
- ^ "X Games: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins second medal in Aspen, claims bronze in Big Air". Stuff. 1 February 2021.
- ^ "Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous create history at World Championships". Stuff. 13 March 2021.
- ^ "Kiwi snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins prestigious Dew Tour title". Stuff. 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Winter Olympics: Kiwi snowboarders Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Tiarn Collins complete ideal build-up with World Cup podiums". Newshub. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
- ^ "Sadowski-Synnott wins again". Radio New Zealand. 23 January 2022.
- ^ "Sadowski-Synnott wins slopestyle gold". BBC Sport. 6 February 2022.
- ^ Wilson, Sam (15 February 2022). "Live Winter Olympics: Zoi Sadowski-Synnott goes for gold again". Stuff.
- ^ Caldwell, Olivia (21 December 2022). "Kiwi snowboarding sensation Zoi Sadowski-Synnott wins Lonsdale Cup". Stuff. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
- ^ "New Year honours list 2023". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
- ^ "Sadowski-Synnott stoked after another X Games gold". Radio New Zealand. 28 January 2023.
- ^ "Zoi Sadowski-Synnott beaten by 16-year sensation at Snowboard World Championships". Stuff. 28 February 2023.
External links
edit- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at Snow Sports NZ
- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at FIS (snowboarding)
- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at Olympics.com
- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at Olympedia
- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at the New Zealand Olympic Committee
- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott at the X Games
