Wānaka’s Olympic champion Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has been awarded the prestigious Lonsdale Cup at a ceremony today (Wednesday December 21) on the Wānaka lakefront.

Zoi joins a list of New Zealand sporting legends to have received the distinguished award, which is awarded annually by the New Zealand Olympic Committee to the athlete (or team) who has demonstrated the most outstanding contribution to an Olympic or Commonwealth sport during the previous year.

“Looking at some of the names on this trophy makes it pretty real just how much history there is behind this award and just how special this is,” Zoi said.

“I can’t really believe it; thank you very much.”

New Zealand Olympic Committee CEO Nicki Nicol said Zoi created history when she won New Zealand’s first ever winter Olympic gold medal.

“Zoi, you are a leader in your sport and you inspire many young New Zealanders, particularly young women, to live healthier lives and to follow their sporting dreams,” Nicki said.

“It is hard to believe that at 21 years of age she [Zoi] is still inspiring so many, with so much potential ahead.”

It is the first time the Lonsdale Cup has been presented to a winter Olympian since its inception in 1961 when Sir Murray Halberg was its inaugural recipient.

Snow Sports New Zealand CEO Nic Cavanagh attended the presentation.

He said the snow sports community is proud of Zoi, not just for what she has achieved but how she achieved it. 

“You’re a fiercely competitive world champion, but what you do is balance that with genuine stoke and regard for your competitors,” he said.

“Being able to balance that competitiveness and having joy in seeing other people achieve their goals and aspirations is a really unique mix.”

Zoi won the Olympic gold medal at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Games in slopestyle, as well as a silver medal in Big Air. 

She is currently ranked as the best female snowboarder in the world.

In the past 20 years a woman or a women's team has won the Lonsdale Cup 16 times, including by New Zealand sporting legends Dame Valerie Adams (5), Dame Lisa Carrington (3), and Lydia Ko.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App