Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand celebrates landing her second run in the Women’s Snowboard Big Air Finals at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Italy. Photo: www.photosport.nz
As the Winter Olympics in Milan enter the second week it's coming down to finals time in many sports.
Pressure is nothing new to athletes competing internationally, but the Olympics brings a whole other level of stress.
Wanaka freeskier Luca Harrington finished sixth in the men's big air final at the Milan Winter Olympics today.
Harrington won bronze in last week's men's slopestyle.
But despite the reigning big air World Champion having a great first run this morning, he failed to land his second run and had a sloppy landing in his third attempt.
Meanwhile, heavy snow forced delays in the women's snowboard slopestyle medal event in which New Zealander Zoi Sadowski Synnott is a favourite.
Dr Arne Nieuwenhuys is an associate professor in sport, exercise and performance psychology at Auckland University.
