Wānaka’s Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (20) is the new Olympic champion in women’s snowboard slopestyle, winning gold today in Beijing.

New Zealand had never won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in our 70 year history of attending the Games. In fact we’d only won three medals in total before today.

Last to drop for her third run, Zoi was assured of a silver medal positioned in second place. With nothing to lose Zoi scored a 92.88 to claim gold with American Julia Marino in silver and Australian Tess Coady claiming the bronze.

"I can't believe it," Zoi told Sky Sport.

"Honestly complete disbelief.

"It's an indescribable feeling, I just knew I had to put it down and I knew I was capable of it. It took everything in me to land that last jump".

In 2018 at the age of 16 Zoi won a bronze medal at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in Big Air. She finished thirteenth in slopestyle in PyeongChang.

In January Zoi captured two gold medals in slopestyle and big air at the X Games in Aspen, Colorado, beating the best athletes in the world.

Zoi will compete again in Beijing on Monday February 14 in the Big Air competition. See the full schedule for New Zealand athletes here.

PHOTO: Sky Sport