Van der Lugt (22), competing in the advanced skiing grade, won a gold medal in the giant slalom and a silver medal in the super G. He was fifth in the slalom.
"It felt great. It was overwhelming to come away with two medals. It was a great honour to stand on the podium representing New Zealand," he told the Otago Daily Times yesterday.
There was a big welcome for the 11-strong New Zealand team when it arrived at the Auckland airport.
New Zealand athletes won two gold medals and five silver medals - one by North Otago's Daniel Joyce - in snowboarding and alpine skiing.
Van der Lugt, who was educated at Kings High School, was interviewed for national television for the first time.
There was also a large group of friends and family who gave him a special welcome at the Dunedin airport.
"It made me feel as though I was a true Olympian," he said. "It was overwhelming."
Van der Lugt reached top form on the fast Idaho skifield and won the giant slalom by five seconds from a Slovenian and a German.
The Slovenian edged him out of the gold medal in the Super G.
Van der Lugt has won 10 New Zealand skiing titles but this was the first time he has represented New Zealand overseas.
He started skiing at the age of 4, and does most of his training at Cardrona.
"I like the challenge of skiing. I enjoy being in the fresh air high in the mountains. Up there I don't worry about anything else. It is fun doing it."
There were 25,000 athletes competing at the Special Olympics Winter Games in Idaho. The Summer Games will be held in 2011.
The other Otago representatives in the team were skiers Joyce and John Halliday (Central Otago).
Otago also had three officials with the team: snow coach Lyn Donaldson (Central Otago), head delegate Stewart Hewett (North Otago) and assistant head delegate Noel Joyce (North Otago).
Daniel Joyce won a silver medal in the giant slalom and was fourth in the super G and fifth in the slalom, while Halliday was fourth in the giant slalom and super G and sixth in the slalom.
