As the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games came to a close last night (Thursday February 1) New Zealand team chef de mission Marty Toomey (Wānaka) spoke positively about the future of the sport in New Zealand.

The event has been New Zealand’s most successful ever Winter Youth Olympic Games, with the team winning seven medals (one gold, two silvers, and four bronzes).

“This is a great group of young athletes and we’re really proud of the way they’ve represented themselves and New Zealand at these Games,” Marty said.

“The future of snow and ice sports in New Zealand is looking bright and I look forward to seeing these athletes continue to shine on the world stage in the future.”

Two-time Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games medallist Luke Harrold (Lake Hāwea) carried the New Zealand flag at the closing ceremony. 

Marty Toomey

Marty said he was chosen due to his performance and the values he displayed at the Games.

“Luke has performed outstandingly on and off the field of play,” Marty said.

“He’s an incredible athlete with a huge future ahead of him and we’re really proud to have him as our flagbearer.”

The final day of competition saw a fourth place for New Zealand in the men’s Snowboard Halfpipe, with Wānaka’s Cam Melville Ives just missing out on his second medal of the Games, following his bronze in Snowboard Big Air.

New Zealand was represented by 22 athletes in Gangwon, with seven freestyle/freeski athletes, five snowboard athletes, four curlers, three alpine ski racers, one luge athlete, one biathlete and one figure skater.

They were among two thousand young athletes (aged between 14 and 18 years old) from around the world who competed in seven sports, 15 disciplines and 81 events at Gangwon 2024, the fourth edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

PHOTOS: Supplied