Kiwi snowboard queen Zoi Sadowski-Synnott admits it's going to take some time to grasp the significance of her historic women's slopestyle gold-medal triumph at the Beijing Winter Olympics on Sunday.
In the event's final run, the typically composed 20-year-old - ice coursing through her veins - nailed her third and final effort to leap into first place and become the first New Zealander to ever top a podium at a Winter Olympics.
"I've been dreaming about it for so long but it doesn't feel real at the moment," Sadowski-Synnott tells Newshub. "It will take a while to process, I think.
"Even making the Olympics, it means so much to be back here, and to come away with gold after my performance in Pyeongchang [Olympics 2018] just means so much to me… I'm so stoked."
With the highest of stakes on the line and a nation holding its collective breath, Sadowski-Synnott brushed off a disappointing second run ("a little snow snake came up and grabbed my board") and put her faith in the hard work she'd invested to land what she knew would be a gold medal-worthy routine.
"I can't really describe how I felt at the top," she admits. "I just had to trust that all the work I put in would pay off and that I'd land those last two hits. Landing that was just the most unreal emotion."
While American Marino landed two 900s and a 1080 during her best run, Sadowski-Synnott managed to pull off two 1080s and a 900.
Marino's highest scoring trick - a backside 900 - earned her 8.75. All three of Sadowski-Synnott's tricks scored higher.
"I definitely had to separate performance and outcome. I've been planning that run for so long.
"So, as long as I'd landed that run, no matter where it had got me I'd have been stoked."
The judges clearly agreed, and as her score of 92.88 flashed up on the scoreboard - comfortably surpassing rival Julia Marino's 87.68 - Sadowski-Synnott was overcome with a wave of pent-up emotion.
"I had bottled them up, but they come just from thinking of everyone who's helped me get to where I am today.
"I know I wouldn't be here today without them and I hope that I made them proud.
"I haven't been home in three months, so I really miss New Zealand and can't wait to be back."
The win earned the Wanaka native her second Winter Olympics medal, adding to the silver she won in the big air as a 16-year-old at Pyeongchang 2018.
Now Sadowski-Synnott focus shifts to that very event, where she'll begin her quest to earn a double dose of gold next Monday.
"I can't wait to hit the jump," she says with a grin. "The freeskiers have said it's been unreal
"I just hope to put down the tricks I've been planning for and hope for the best performance."
Join Newshub for live updates of Zoi Sadowski-Synnott in the women's big air on Monday, February 14
