NZ team finishes with two bronzes in historic campaign
New Zealand’s history-making Winter Olympics campaign came to a close with the final medal tally standing at two.
Veteran speed skater Peter Michael has finished the mass start final in 15th place in PyeongChang at the weekend.
With Michael the last Kiwi in action, the campaign ended with two bronze medals from teenagers Nico Porteous and Zoi SadowskiSynnott.
The pair of 16-year-olds gave New Zealand two medals within 90 minutes on Thursday, breaking a 26-year medal drought at the Winter Olympics,
Snowboarder SadowskiSynnott’s medal in the big air final was New Zealand’s first at the Winter Olympics since alpine skier Annelise Coberger’s silver in the women’s slalom in 1992 in Albertville, France.
It was quickly followed by Porteous’ medal in the men’s freeski halfpipe.
Michael, part of the Kiwi team pursuit trio who came agonisingly close to a medal last week, was New Zealand’s final athlete to compete at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
On his qualifying run, Michael gave the Kiwis hope of one more medal to finish their mostsuccessful-ever Winter Olympics on a high.
His heat win was good enough to qualify second but he ultimately finished second to last in the field of 16 skaters who contested the 6400m final, won by hometown hero Lee Seung-Hoon.
Michael’s fellow Kiwi, Reyon Kay, crashed out in the semifinal.
The result means New Zealand’s promising speed skating campaign ends without a medal.
Michael was unfortunate to walk away without a medal following his fourth in the 5000m and fourth in the team pursuit alongside Kay and Shane Dobbin.
Earlier on Saturday, Carlos Garcia Knight, top qualifier for the men’s big air final, crashed out of contention.