Bronze medalist's father says win start of a career

Bronze medalist 16-year-old Zoi Sadowski Synnott's career is just starting according to her father. Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

The "incredibly proud" father of Winter Olympic Games bronze medal winner Zoi Sadowski-Synnott says the achievement is the beginning of her career.

The Wanaka snowboarder broke New Zealand's 26-year medal drought after nabbing a bronze medal at the big air event at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

She became the youngest Kiwi to win a medal at the Olympic Games, surpassing the mark set by Danyon Loader in 1992.

However, she was bumped to the second-youngest just hours later when Nico Porteous won bronze in the men's freeski halfpipe competition.

Dad Sean Synnott, speaking from PyeongChang said he as well as the rest of New Zealand was pretty proud of her.

"We are just stoked and the atmosphere here is really good. The atmosphere created by all the outpouring of support from New Zealand has just been amazing.

Synnott reacts after her final run during the Snowboard - Ladies' Big Air Final. Photo : Bello/Getty Images

"Zoi is feeling really good. I think she is pretty proud and probably going to have a major adrenaline comedown tomorrow but she is in really good spirits."

It was amazing to see his daughter on the podium with Anna Gasser and Jamie Anderson who had been "world champions year after year".

The bronze medal was the start of a career for Zoi, Synott

"The other girls are in their mid to late 20s and Zoi is 16 and up there with the best in the world.

"We knew she was good but we didn't know she was this good."

He remembered in 2012 telling her when she was 16 she would be competing in 2018 and do go for it.

"I think it stuck in her mind."

Zoi's coach Mitch Brown said he was absolutely rapt for Zoi and Nico.

After Zoi's third run he gave her a massive hug to congratulate her.

She was without a doubt a "student of the shred", he told Newstalk ZB.

He hoped Zoi's medal would encourage more people to get involved in the sport.

"It is a really fun sport."

Brown himself had competed in snowboarding at the Olympics.

In New Zealand, Zoi's principal at Mt Aspiring College said it was an incredible moment for the school.

"We are basking in her glory."

Most students livestreamed Zoi's event, he said.

"I got more and more nervous, there was tremendous joy after the second run.

"There was an unoffical drumroll then no one knew what to do."

But when it was obvious she had gotten the medal the entire school "erupted into joy".

The school would plan a homecoming for Zoi, he said.

He described her a very "focused" person who kept up with her studies while travelling around the world with her sport.