‘Something’ special planned for Olympic medallists

 Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous. Photo: Getty Images
Plans are afoot to celebrate the success of Olympic heroes Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and Nico Porteous when they return home to Otago.

The bronze medallists will arrive in New Zealand this morning and will attend a presentation at the New Zealand Olympic Committee headquarters in Auckland.

Queenstown Lakes Mayor Jim Boult said on radio on Sunday there would ‘‘absolutely’’ be a street parade to welcome the teens home to the district, but yesterday he referred questions to council arts and events co-ordinator Jan Maxwell.

She said while she could not at this stage confirm event details including a venue, ‘‘something is planned for Thursday’’.

Details of the celebration would be made public once everything was confirmed.

Mount Aspiring College principal Wayne Bosley confirmed Zoi, a year 13 pupil at the college, would be welcomed back at a special assembly on Thursday morning.

Zoi and Nico (both 16) shot to stardom in a matter of seconds when they came from relative obscurity to win bronze medals an hour apart last Thursday, breaking New Zealand’s 26-year medal drought at the Winter Olympics.

The pair led New Zealand in the closing ceremony on Sunday night, with Zoi becoming the country’s youngest flag-bearer, surpassing former swimmer Danyon Loader, who was 21 when he carried the flag in the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.

The pair are due to arrive in Queenstown tomorrow.

sean.nugent@odt.co.nz

 

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