Beijing Olympic gold medalists Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous, along with paralympic medalists Corey Peters and Adam Hall, have received a hero's welcome in Wanaka.
The local community were out in full force to sound their appreciation for their efforts in Beijing.
First-time Winter Olympics gold medalists Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous admit they were humbled by the turnout and hope to inspire future generations, while enjoying some much-needed downtime.
"It's nice being home, being able to chill and go snowboarding whenever you want," Sadowski-Synnott said.
"We hope that we can inspire the youth to strap on a snowboard, or put some skis on and get up into the hills," Porteous said.
The next generation of world-beaters were lining up to collect their idol's autographs, with the Olympians confident the celebration could be just the start of parades in Wanaka for years to come.
The next Winter Olympic Games will be held in Italy in 2026, and if today's turnout is anything to go by, there's every chance it could be as, if not more successful than Beijing.
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