Winter Olympics: Kiwis react to Zoi Sadowski-Synnott winning New Zealand's first medal in 26 years

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in New Zealand's first Winter Olympics medallist in 26 years. Photo / Getty Images.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was among a large contingent of Kiwis who voiced their congratulations to Kiwi snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott on social media.

The 16-year-old won a bronze medal in the women's big air at the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang on Thursday, breaking New Zealand's 26-year medal drought at the Winter Games.

Politicians, athletes and sporting bodies were among those to offer messages of congratulations to Sadowski-Synnott on Twitter immediately after the result was confirmed.

Huge congratulations to Snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott for your bronze medal win!! You’ve done us so proud. #PyeongChang2018

— Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) February 22, 2018

YASS Zoi!!! 🥉 https://t.co/mO3u46YwaS

— Sophie Pascoe (@SophPascoe) February 22, 2018

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott finished the big air final with a score of 157.50. Photo: Getty Images

Congratulations Zoi! Awesome to see you bringing home the medal for New Zealand! #EarnTheFern #Earned https://t.co/xUXdJdqzc6

— Silver Ferns (@SilverFernsNZ) February 22, 2018

Absolutely incredible from Zoi Sodowski-Synnott! Bronze medal. Congratulations #Olympics #PyeongChang2018 #EarnTheFern

— Ben Sandford (@bensandford12) February 22, 2018

‘She’s just so talented, and dedicated to her craft and has progressed so fast. It’s incredible. It’s just so awesome to see such an exceptional young woman come through the ranks and win a bronze medal at the Olympic Games.’ Coach Mitch Brown on Zoi Sadowski-Synnott #EarnTheFern

— The New Zealand Team (@TheNZTeam) February 22, 2018

Ka mau te wehi! Awesome work by 16yo Zoi Sadowski-Synnott who has became just the second New Zealander to win an Olympic Winter Games medal — and the first in in 26 years! #PyeongChang2018 #Olympics #WomenInSport pic.twitter.com/fouXC3vmSi

— Manatū Wāhine Ministry for Women (@women_nz) February 22, 2018

History created 🙌🏻

It was worth waiting 26 years for this moment.

Bronze medal for Zoi Sadowski-Synnott.#EarnTheFern#Earned 🇳🇿🌿 pic.twitter.com/zfCoHnDfGv

— The New Zealand Team (@TheNZTeam) February 22, 2018

Whether the snowboarder gets their messages or not is a different story, as she doesn't appear to have an account on the site.

The 16-year-old finished third in the event with a final score of 157.50 from her two counting runs. Austrian Anna Gasser took the gold medal with a score of 185, while American Jamie Anderson claimed the silver with a score of 177.25.

Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (right) finished third behind America's Jamie Anderson (left) and Austria's Anna Gasser (centre). Photo / Getty Images.

With the result, the young Kiwi becomes the youngest ever Olympic medallist from New Zealand at 16 years 353 days. Swimmer Danyon Loader previously held the mark after he claimed a silvermedal in the pool at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.