Imagine being your country’s first gold medalist and having 9 medals to your name. Imagine being the first person to perform an impossible trick. Meet Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, a female New Zealand professional snowboarder. Her career began around 2015 when she entered her first cup, the Australian New Zealand Cup. This gained attention and popularity because she placed first.
At just 20 years old, Zoi scored gold at Beijing’s Genting Snow Park in the Winter Olympics for her outstanding slopestyle in 2022. According to Jack Bantock, a CNN reporter, “It left the Kiwi requiring a near-flawless performance in the most pressurized of circumstances, and the 20-year-old delivered emphatically — a jaw-dropping final run rewarding her with a 92.88 score, over five points clear of Marino’s best attempt in second, and a historic gold medal.”
At just 20 years old, Zoi scored gold at Beijing’s Genting Snow Park in the Winter Olympics for her outstanding slopestyle in 2022. According to Jack Bantock, a CNN reporter, “It left the Kiwi requiring a near-flawless performance in the most pressurized of circumstances, and the 20-year-old delivered emphatically — a jaw-dropping final run rewarding her with a 92.88 score, over five points clear of Marino’s best attempt in second, and a historic gold medal.” Zoi Sadowski has a total of 14 medals in her career. She has gold in slopestyle, Silver in Big Air 2022, and Bronze in Big Air 2018. She earned 7 medals in X Games, in addition to 2 golds! X Games is a multi-sport event where athletes compete for medals and prize money. This started in 1994 with ESPN.
According to Dope Magazine, “World Championships? Stomped it (two golds). US Open? Could have done it in her sleep. Natural Selection Tour? Conquered it and came first at the Baldface stop. And it’s not just a variety of competitions she can handle – she’s insanely talented in all disciplines, including Slopestyle, Big Air, and Freeriding.”
Zoi Sadowski earned the title of New Zealand’s first gold medalist. Plus, the first-ever kiwi (which is a national symbol of New Zealand) to win multiple Winter Olympic medals. Mia Brookes and Kokomo Murase are neck to neck in slopestyle.
All of these accomplishments, yet Zoi became famous for being the first female to do a switchback 900 and land, switch backside 1260, and land double corks two times in a row!
Zoi has been a three-time Winter Olympic Medalist, current and three-time snowboard slopestyle World Champion, a 2025 FIS Snowboard Slopestyle Crystal Globe winner, an 11-time X Games medalist, and has 13 World Cup podiums to her name.
According to https://www.1news.co.nz/, “Sadowski-Synnott completed her Olympic collection Tuesday with a silver medal in the women’s big air competition at the Beijing Olympics..Among the many watching her soar back home were staff and students, including her former math teacher.” Zoi Sadowski is recognized as a remarkable leader and role model for everyone.
Zoi Sadowski Synnot is a perfect example of a very successful athlete. Even with all her medals and accomplishments, you would think she would have a break, right? Wrong. You can see her in big films and advertisements. She is working to perfect her backcountry skills, which essentially means going off-roading on her board.
All in all, Zoi Sadowski Synnot is a very talented person and athlete. With 14 medals and the first Kiwi to receive gold, it is safe to say that she is extremely gifted. According to boafit.com, “Zoi Sadowski-Synnott is a leading figure in snowboarding, known for her groundbreaking skills in slopestyle and big air.” Zoi is still making snowboard history and is working to improve herself even more.