Winter Olympics: Nico Porteous wins NZ’s second ever gold medal in men’s freeski halfpipe

Nico Porteous has claimed New Zealand’s second ever gold medal at the Winter Olympics, winning the men’s freeski halfpipe final in Beijing this afternoon.

The Wanaka freeskier had an impeccable first run on the Olympic course, landing a thrilling combination of back-to-back 1620s, to score 93 points. He crashed out on his third run, but held onto that lead to win the gold.

GOLDNico Porteous has just made Beijing 2022 New Zealand’s most successful Olympic Winter Games ever by winning the Men’s freeski halfpipe!

What a moment – what an athlete
#Earned #EarnTheFern #KoTātauTeKapaOAotearoa pic.twitter.com/Kkq2eb8G5P

— The New Zealand Team (@TheNZTeam) February 19, 2022

Porteous is the reigning world champion and now has a gold to match the bronze he won in Pyeongchang four years ago

In windy conditions in the mountains northwest of Beijing, the skiiers found it tough going with many athletes crashing out on their runs.

Nico Porteous in action during the freestyle skiing men’s freeski halfpipe final
Photo: AFP

Defending Olympic champion David Wise of the United States was second with a score of 90.75, with his team-mate Alex Ferreira took the bronze.

Brother Miguel Porteous also competed in the event, finishing 11th.

Porteous’ gold medal is only the second for New Zealand at the Winter Olympics, after Zoi Sadowski-Synnott won the country’s first ever Winter Olympics Gold in the women’s slopestyle event.

Sadowski-Synnott has also won a silver medal at the Beijing Olympics, with a big performance in the women’s snowboard Big Air final.