![Sadowski-Synnott pulled off a near-faultless final run to jump into the gold medal position....](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2023/02/gettyimages-1368872089.jpg?itok=Qp-Ic5W4)
She twisted, spun and flipped her way into the history books last February when she became the first New Zealander to win gold at the Winter Olympics.
The 21-year-old won the slopestyle and also upgraded the bronze she won in the big air at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games to a silver at Beijing.
Tonight the queen of the slopes collected another big prize — she was named 2022 supreme winner at the Halberg Awards ceremony.
It was a dual celebration for Wānaka, with skier Nico Porteous, who also hails from the town, named sportsman of the year.
Sadowski-Synnott also nabbed the sportswoman of the year title, unseating canoeing great Lisa Carrington who had won the title the past five times it was awarded.
![Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who this year became the first woman to land a back-to-back frontside...](https://www.odt.co.nz/sites/default/files/styles/odt_landscape_extra_large_4_3/public/story/2024/05/zoi_sadowski-synnott_2_getty.jpg?itok=KubxTsi7)
Sadowski-Synnott also headed off a strong challenge from the Black Ferns, who won the team of the year award and would have been popular supreme winners as well.
But Sadowski-Synnott got the nod because she reached the top first.
In 15 previous Winter Olympics the high point had been Annelise Coberger’s silver in 1992 and the bronze medals Sadowski-Synnott and Porteous claimed at Pyeongchang.
Sadowski-Synnott was first to win gold but not by much.
A week or so later, Porteous claimed New Zealand’s second gold medal at Beijing when he produced a stunning first run which set-up victory in the men’s freeski halfpipe.