New Zealand at the 2018 Winter Olympics explained

Noc:NZL
Year:2018
Games:Winter Olympics
Games Link:2018 Winter Olympics
Alt:Flag of New Zealand
Nocname:New Zealand Olympic Committee
Location:Pyeongchang, South Korea
Date:9–25 February 2018
Competitors:21
Sports:5
Flagbearer:Beau-James Wells[1]
Flagbearer Close:Zoi Sadowski-Synnott[2]
Rank:26
Gold:0
Silver:0
Bronze:2
Appearances:auto

New Zealand competed at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, from 9 to 25 February 2018. The team consisted of 21 athletes, 17 men and 4 women, across five sports.

The team collected two bronze medals, which made these games the most successful Winter Games for New Zealand; the nation had previously collected only one Winter Olympic medal, a silver at the 1992 Games. The two medals also exceeded High Performance Sport New Zealand's target of one medal for the Games.[3]

The two bronze medals were won by Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in the women's snowboarding big air and by Nico Porteous in the men's ski halfpipe. Porteous at 16 years 91 days and Sadowski-Synnott at 16 years 353 days became the nation's two youngest Olympic medallists, breaking the previous record of 17 years 100 days set by Danyon Loader at the 1992 Summer Olympics.[4]

Medallists

MedalNameSportEventDate
22 February
22 February

Competitors

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) confirmed a team of 21 athletes, 17 men and 4 women, to compete in five sports. It is the largest delegation New Zealand has sent to the Winter Olympics, surpassing the 18 athletes who were sent to the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino. The nation participated in the same sports as at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Sixteen-year-old alpine skier Alice Robinson was New Zealand's youngest competitor;[5] along with fellow 16-year-olds Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, the three were the first New Zealand Olympians at either Games to be born in the 21st century. 38-year-old speed skater Shane Dobbin was the oldest competitor.

width=180Sportwidth=55Menwidth=55Womenwidth=55Total
Alpine skiing2 1 3
Freestyle skiing7 2 9
Skeleton1 0 1
Snowboarding4 1 5
Speed skating3 0 3
Total 17 4 21

Alpine skiing

See main article: Alpine skiing at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

New Zealand qualified two alpine skiers, one male and one female, through the basic quota. They also received one additional quota.

AthleteEventRun 1Run 2Total
Time RankTimeRankTimeRank
Adam Barwood1:13.41 401:13.81 352:27.22 34
1:31.10 43
Willis Feasey1:14.48 421:13.80 342:28.28 36
1:28.59 37
Alice Robinson1:16.66 371:14.53 382:31.19 35

Freestyle skiing

See main article: Freestyle skiing at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

The NZOC announced the first five freestyle skiers on 24 October 2017,[6] adding another two on 8 November 2017,[7] and a further two on 12 January 2018.[8] Jossi Wells withdrew from participating on 9 January 2018 due to injury.[9]

Halfpipe
AthleteEventQualification Final
Run 1Run 2BestRankRun 1Run 2Run 3BestRank
Miguel PorteousMen's halfpipe40.40 62.60 62.60 17did not advance
Nico Porteous51.20 72.80 72.80 11 Q82.40 94.80 30.00 94.80
Beau-James Wells86.20 88.20 88.20 5 Q87.40 52.20 91.60 91.60 4
Byron Wells88.60 42.00 88.60 4 Q
Britt HawesWomen's halfpipe52.20 57.40 57.40 21did not advance
Janina Kuzma67.80 48.60 67.80 16did not advance
Ski cross
Qualification legend: FA – Qualify to medal round; FB – Qualify to consolation round
Slopestyle
AthleteEventQualification Final
Run 1Run 2BestRankRun 1Run 2Run 3BestRank
Finn BilousMen's slopestyle24.80 85.00 85.00 13did not advance
Jackson Wells52.80 42.00 52.80 25did not advance

Skeleton

See main article: Skeleton at the 2018 Winter Olympics. New Zealand qualified one male skeleton athlete.[10] The NZOC announced the selection of the racer on 19 January 2018.[11]

Snowboarding

See main article: Snowboarding at the 2018 Winter Olympics. The NZOC announced the first four snowboarders on 24 October 2017.

Freestyle
AthleteEventQualificationFinal
Run 1 Run 2 Best RankRun 1 Run 2 Run 3 Best Rank
Carlos Garcia KnightMen's big air88.75 97.50 97.50 1 Q54.25 54.25 11
Men's slopestyle80.10 40.20 80.10 2 Q78.60 52.98 24.35 78.60 5
Zoi Sadowski-SynnottWomen's big air72.75 92.00 92.00 5 Q65.50 92.00 157.50
Women's slopestyleCancelled[12] 26.70 48.38 48.38 13
Rakai TaitMen's halfpipe36.50 25.75 36.50 26Did not advance

Tiarn Collins also qualified for the men's slopestyle and big air competitions, but was forced to withdraw after dislocated his shoulder in training prior to the start of the games.[13] [14]

Snowboard cross

Speed skating

See main article: Speed skating at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Individual
AthleteEventRace
TimeRank
Reyon KayMen's 1500 m1:47.8126
Peter MichaelMen's 1500 m1:46.3914
Men's 5000 m6:14.074
Mass start
AthleteEventSemifinalFinal
PointsTimeRankPointsTimeRank
Reyon Kayalign=left rowspan=2Men's09:17.99 12Did not advance
Peter Michael607:55.10 1 Q07:49.33 15
Team pursuit

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Opening Ceremony Flagbearers - Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang 2018. 9 February 2018. olympic.org. International Olympic Committee (IOC). 10 February 2018.
  2. Web site: NZ Team Recognises Medallists Ahead of Closing Ceremony . New Zealand Olympic Committee . 25 February 2018.
  3. Web site: Strategic Plan 2017-2020 . High Performance Sport New Zealand . 11 February 2018.
  4. News: 2018 Winter Olympics: Meet the high-flying 16-year-olds who made New Zealand proud . Kevin . Norquay . 22 February 2018 . Stuff . 24 February 2018.
  5. Web site: Alice Robinson to be New Zealand's youngest ever Winter Olympian at age 16. Stuff.
  6. News: Nico Porteous joins brother in team for Winter Olympics, history beckon . 24 October 2017 . Stuff.co.nz . 25 October 2017.
  7. News: Wells brothers added to Winter Olympics team . Radio New Zealand . 8 November 2017.
  8. Web site: Two more Wells brothers added to NZ Winter Olympics team. 16 January 2018. TVNZ.
  9. Web site: Jossi Wells withdraws from Winter Olympics team. 9 January 2018. 9 January 2018.
  10. Web site: Quota Allocation PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games 2018 - Men's Skeleton - IBSF 14 January 2018. 15 January 2018. www.ibsf.org. International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF). 15 January 2018. 16 January 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180116052604/http://www.ibsf.org/images/documents/downloads/Quotas/2017_18/Quota_allocation_IBSF_RANKING_Men_Skeleton_14_01_2018.pdf. dead.
  11. Web site: Skeleton racer Rhys Thornbury named in New Zealand Winter Olympics team. 15 January 2018. www.stuff.co.nz/. Fairfax New Zealand Limited. 21 January 2018.
  12. News: Women's slopestyle qualification canceled. 11 February 2018. Reuters. 11 February 2018.
  13. Web site: 2018 Winter Olympics: Kiwi snowboarder Tiarn Collins dislocates shoulder on eve. Stuff. 12 February 2018.
  14. Web site: Winter Olympics: Kiwi snowboarder Tiarn Collins ruled out of Winter Olympics. 12 February 2018. www.nzherald.co.nz.