Wanaka-based Olympian Nico Porteous has revealed he had to overcome debilitating nerves to claim a famous bronze medal at the Winter Games.
The 16-year-old Porteous became the country's youngest ever Olympic medallist, breaking Zoi Sadowski-Synnott's two-hour long record when he claimed bronze in the freeski halfpipe.
To get there though, he had to battle serious pre-race nerves before he hit the halfpipe.
"It was a tough day for me, I was very nervous at the top of the course, I actually vomited about three times before I was about to drop in," Porteous revealed to D'Arcy Waldegrave on Newstalk ZB.
However, the early nerves were long forgotten by his second run, which was highlighted by a leftside double cork 1440 – consisting of four full spins and two backflips – as he recorded a 94.8 score to briefly go into gold medal position.
While he was surpassed by Americans David Wise and Alex Ferreira for gold and silver, Porteous was good enough for bronze and is ecstatic at his accomplishment.
"I am absolutely over the moon – so proud to be a New Zealander right now, super happy with how I skied today."
"I just skied to my best ability and tried my hardest, I did some tricks which a lot of people have never seen me do before, but I've been working really hard in the last six months and trying to perfect those tricks. Today it worked and everything paid off."
Porteous had one of the best reactions of the entire Olympics when he saw his score of 94.8 flash up on the results screen.
Porteous has claimed bronze in the men's freestyle skiing halfpipe final at the Winter Olympics in PyeonChang - doubling New Zealand's medal tally at this year's Games.
Porteous secured third place after an amazing 94.8 run on his second attempt - after squeezing into the final by finishing 11th in qualifying.
Fellow New Zealander Beau-James Wells finished fourth with 91.60 on his third run, after his brother Byron - who qualified fourth - had to pull out due to injury.
Americans David Wise and Alex Ferreira secured gold and silver respectively.
With six of the top 10 skiers in the World Cup rankings hailing from the United States, many had predicted an All-American podium sweep.
However, Porteous had other ideas as he produced a stunning second run that belied his age to secure New Zealand's second bronze medal of the day.
Porteous opted to play safe with his third run — only the single best score counted — and after a nervous wait, was whooping with delight. Porteous had been gob-smacked when he saw his second run score but may have regretted not trying to better his 94.8 on his final run.
He had to wait until the final competitor, American Aaron Blunck completed his last run, but Blunck fell short, posting an 84.8. Ferreira was consistently outstanding, while Wise, who won gold at Sochi four years ago, was sensational with his winning run for 97.2.
Porteous punched the air in delight when he stepped onto the podium. His brother Miguel had failed to qualify for the final. However New Zealand had three athletes in the 12-man final and Beau-James Wells began with an 87.4, and came home with a 91.6 to nail fourth.
"I've been thinking about that run for about three years," Beau-James Wells said.
"When it didn't happen on the second run, it was all down to the final run. I'm unbelievably stoked I landed it."
Wells was sixth in Sochi, now fourth and he said it is "very special, just the best."
He ran up the halfpipe 15 minutes before the final began to see his brother Byron, who was counted out of the final by injury, for the second consecutive Olympics.
"That's just the sport," Beau-James said.
"Any run you could be in hospital. It's really unfortunate."
Byron Wells' last words to his younger brother? "Go for it bro. Do it for New Zealand."
Before this year's Winter Olympics, New Zealand had only ever won one medal thanks to Annelise Coberge's silver win at the Albertville Games in France back in 1992.
Earlier, New Zealand teenager Zoi Sadowski-Synnott has created history by winning bronze at the women's Big Air final at the Winter Olympics in PyeonChang today.
- additional reporting Reuters
