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Nico Porteous carves new path, calling time on Olympic career
Kieran Bingham • June 16th, 2025 9:45 am
Nico Porteous celebrates Gold during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at Zhangjiakou | Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Nico Porteous has announced he will step back from Olympic freeski halfpipe competition at just 23 years old.
‘Nipsy’ has already carved out an extraordinary career, becoming New Zealand’s most successful male snow sports competitor.
At 16, Porteous made history by winning bronze at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, becoming New Zealand’s youngest-ever Winter Olympic medallist.
Four years later, he reached the very top of the podium in Beijing, claiming gold in the freeski halfpipe, securing New Zealand’s second-ever Winter Olympic gold medal in the process.
Beyond the Olympics, Porteous has earned two X Games gold medals, a World Championship title, and five World Cup medals.
He recently returned to competition with a silver medal at the 2024 Aspen X Games after a brief break in 2023. His technical skill, creativity, and consistency have helped push the freeski halfpipe sport to new heights and inspired many young Kiwi athletes.
Reflecting on his decision, Porteous said, “I’ve loved representing New Zealand. Wearing the fern and competing for my country has been the most incredible experience and I’m so proud of what I’ve achieved. This wasn’t an easy decision to make but I’m excited to do something new and I feel like the time is right for me to look for a new challenge and new opportunities.”
Although Porteous will no longer compete at Olympic level, he’s not retiring from skiing. Instead, he plans to focus on filming, product development, and new events like Natural Selection Ski, embracing new challenges off the competition circuit.
Porteous leaves a lasting legacy as a trailblazer for New Zealand snow sports. While his Olympic journey may be over, his influence on the sport and the next generation is just beginning.
More to come
