Nico Porteous says he hopes his decision to ski down the middle of halfpipe on final run didn't come across as "cocky".

Kiwi freeskier Nico Porteous says he had put down the best run of his life in his second run in the halfpipe final - and had nothing left for his third run.

The 16-year-old became New Zealand's youngest Olympian with bronze in the halfpipe on Thursday. He had taken over the gold medal position with his second run, but two Americans bettered his score in the end.

Many were stunned when he cruised to the bottom of the halfpipe on his third run.

1 of 57 PATRICK SEMANSKY/AP Nico Porteous reacts after receiving his bronze medal for the men's freeski halfpipe at the PyeongChang Olympics. 2 of 57 DAVID RAMOS/GETTY IMAGES New Zealand's Zoi Sadowski Synnott (left) acknowledges her supporters on the medal dais for the women's snowboard big air in PyeongChang. 3 of 57 GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski-Synnott smiles after receiving her bronze medal for the women's snowboard big air at the 2018 Winter Olympics. 4 of 57 MATTHIAS HANGST/GETTY IMAGES Nico Porteous flies high above the halfpipe during the men's freeski halfpipe final at the Phoenix Snow Park in PyeongChang. 5 of 57 DANIEL KARMANN/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski-Synnott throws down a trick during the women's snowboard big air final at the 2018 Winter Olympics. 6 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Nico Porteous waves the New Zealand flag after claiming the bronze medal in the men's freeski halfpipe final. 7 of 57 DANIEL KARMANN/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski-Synnott rotates on a trick during the women's snowboard big air final in PyeongChang. 8 of 57 DANIEL KARMANN/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski-Synnott poses with the New Zealand flag after becoming New Zealand's first Winter Olympics medallist since 1992. 9 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Nico Porteous (right) celebrates with gold medallist David Wise after learning he had clinched a bronze medal in the men's freeski halfpipe final. 10 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Beau-James Wells competes on the way to finishing fourth in the men's freeski halfpipe final. 11 of 57 MATTHIAS HANGST/GETTY IMAGES Byron Wells practises for the men's freeski halfpipe final, before crashing and being forced out with injury. 12 of 57 QUINN ROONEY/GETTY IMAGES Willis Feasey crashes out of the men's slalom during Day 13 of the PyeongChang Olympics. 13 of 57 DEAN MOUHTAROPOLOUS/GETTY IMAGES Peter Michael, Shane Dobbin and Reyon Kay cross the finish line as they come up just short against South Korea in the men's team pursuit semifinal. 14 of 57 HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES Peter Michael, Reyon Kay and Shane Dobbin of New Zealand compete against South Korea in the men's team pursuit semifinal. 15 of 57 QUINN ROONEY/GETTY IMAGES Jamie Prebble of New Zealand competes in the men's ski cross seeding run on Day 12 of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 16 of 57 DAVID RAMOS/GETTY IMAGES Jamie Prebble (centre) of New Zealand competes against Marc Bischofberger of Switzerland (right) and Brady Leman of Canada in the men's ski cross 1/8th final at Phoenix Snow Park. 17 of 57 LARS BARON/GETTY IMAGES Carlos Garcia Knight of New Zealand throws down a trick during qualification in the men's snowboard big air on Day 12 of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 18 of 57 RYAN PIERSE/GETTY IMAGES Carlos Garcia Knight of New Zealand competes during the men's big air qualification at Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre. 19 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Miguel Porteous of New Zealand competes during the men's freeski halfpipe qualification on Day 11 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 20 of 57 AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski Synnott of New Zealand competes during the women's snowboard big air qualification on day 10 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 21 of 57 MATTHIAS HANGST/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski Synnott of New Zealand does upside down on her way to fifth in qualifying for the women's snowboard big air event at Alpensia Ski Jumping Centre. 22 of 57 CLIVE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES Janina Kuzma of New Zealand competes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualification on day 10 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Phoenix Snow Park. 23 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Britt Hawes of New Zealand competes during the women's freestyle skiing halfpipe qualification on day 10 of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 24 of 57 JAMIE SQUIRE/GETTY IMAGES The New Zealand team of Reyon Kay, Peter Michael and Shane Dobbin compete against Norway in the men's speedskating team pursuit at Gangneung Oval. 25 of 57 GETTY IMAGES New Zealand's Peter Michael, Shane Dobbin and Reyon Kay compete during the men's speed skating team pursuit quarterfinals on day nine of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 26 of 57 MATTHIAS HANGST/GETTY IMAGES Adam Barwood of New Zealand reacts at the finish during the men's giant slalom, where he finished 34th, in PyeongChang. 27 of 57 AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES Willis Feasey of New Zealand finished 36th overall in the men's giant slalom on day nine of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 28 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Jackson Wells gets some huge air during the men's free skiing slopestyle qualification at the PyeongChang Games. 29 of 57 CLIVE MASON/GETTY IMAGES Finn Bilous of New Zealand competes during the men's freestyle skiing slopestyle qualification on day nine of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 30 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Jackson Wells of New Zealand competes during the men's freestyle skiing slopestyle qualification on day nine of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 31 of 57 QUINN ROONEY/GETTY IMAGES Rhys Thornbury of New Zealand gets a little sideways as he slides during the men's skeleton final run at Olympic Sliding Centre. 32 of 57 ANDREAS RENTZ/GETTY IMAGES Adam Barwood of New Zealand competes during the men's super-G on day seven of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 33 of 57 ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES Willis Feasey of New Zealand competes during the men's super-G on day seven of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 34 of 57 ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES Adam Barwood of New Zealand competes during the men's super-G on day seven of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Jeongseon Alpine Centre. 35 of 57 CLIVE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES Duncan Campbell of New Zealand competes during the men's snowboard cross seeding on day six of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 36 of 57 SEAN M HAFFEY/GETTY IMAGES Alice Robinson of New Zealand competes during the women's giant slalom on day six of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games at Yongpyong Alpine Centre. 37 of 57 CLIVE ROSE/GETTY IMAGES Duncan Campbell of New Zealand competes during the men's snowboard cross seeding at Phoenix Snow Park. 38 of 57 LARS BARON/GETTY IMAGES Rhys Thornbury of New Zealand slides during the men's skeleton heats at the Olympic Sliding Centre. 39 of 57 MATTHIAS HANGST/GETTY IMAGES Rhys Thornbury of New Zealand slides into the finish area during the men's skeleton heats on day six of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 40 of 57 DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS/GETTY IMAGES Peter Michael of New Zealand and Livio Wenger of Switzerland race during the men's 1500m speed skating at Gangneung Oval. 41 of 57 MADDIE MEYER/GETTY IMAGES Reyon Kay of New Zealand competes during the men's 1500m speed skating on day four of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 42 of 57 DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS/GETTY IMAGES Mulleted Kiwi speed skater Peter Michael looks on during the men's 1500m on day four of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 43 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Rakai Tait of New Zealand competes during the men's snowboard halfpipe qualification at Phoenix Snow Park. 44 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Rakai Tait of New Zealand competes during the men's snowboard halfpipe qualification on day four of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 45 of 57 ADAM PRETTY/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski-Synnott competes in the women's snowboard slopestyle final on day three of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 46 of 57 CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski-Synnott competes in the women's snowboard slopestyle final on day three of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 47 of 57 DEAN MOUHTAROPOULOS/GETTY IMAGES Peter Michael competes in the men's 5000m speed skating event on day two of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 48 of 57 HARRY HOW/GETTY IMAGES Peter Michael competes against Jan Blokhuijsen of the Netherlands during the men's 5000m speed skating event on day two in PyeongChang. 49 of 57 CLIVE MASON/GETTY IMAGES Carlos Garcia Knight of New Zealand competes in the men's snowboard slopestyle final on day two of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics. 50 of 57 AL BELLO/GETTY IMAGES Carlos Garcia Knight competes during the men's snowboard slopestyle final on day two of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 51 of 57 LARS BARON/GETTY IMAGES Flagbearer Beau-James Wells leads the New Zealand team into the stadium during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 52 of 57 PETR DAVID JOSEK/AP Beau-James Wells carries the flag of New Zealand during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. 53 of 57 DAN ISTITENE/GETTY IMAGES Flagbearer Beau-James Wells waves the New Zealand national flag during the Opening Ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 54 of 57 ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES Snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott of New Zealand hangs out in the athletes' village ahead of PyeongChang Winter Olympics. 55 of 57 ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN/ GETTY IMAGES Snowboarders Hiroaki Kunitake of Japan and Tiarn Collins of New Zealand (right) exchange pins ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games. 56 of 57 KER ROBERTSON/GETTY IMAGES New Zealand speed skaters Peter Michael, Shane Dobbin and Reyon Kay hold up the country's flag as they arrive at the PyeongChang athletes village. 57 of 57 ALEXANDER HASSENSTEIN/GETTY IMAGES Snowboarder Carlos Garcia Knight of holds up the words to the Ka Mate haka as the New Zealand team arrives at the PyeongChang athletes village.

"I had nothing left," he said. "That was me. That was all I had left in the bag. I hope people didn't see that as me being cocky because I really had nothing left. That was the best run I've ever done in my life."

READ MORE:

* Zoi and Nico: The jinx smashers

* Zoi's schoolmates are silenced

* Porteous 'wants to be scared'

* Sadowski-Synnott wins bronze

GETTY IMAGES Nico Porteous couldn't believe the score that propelled him into first in the men's freeski halfpipe final.

The Hamilton-born Wanaka-domiciled skier was thrilled to get a medal, New Zealand's second on the day after another 16-year-old snowboarder from Wanaka, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, also won bronze in the women's big air final, which was New Zealand's first medal at the Winter Olympics for 26 years.

Porteous had no clue he was making history and no idea that, at 16 years and 91 days old, he would become New Zealand's youngest ever Olympic medallist.

"I've been really working hard on that run for the last four years," Porteous told Sky Sport.

GETTY IMAGES Porteous became New Zealand's youngest ever Olympic medallist.

"I've been giving it everything I got and training as hard as I can. For me to do the two best runs of my life back to back, that's insane."

Finalists in the freeski halfpipe final had three runs to record their best score to push for the podium. Porteous started well with 82.50 before stunning everyone - nobody more than himself - with an incredible 94.80 on his second run.

It propelled the young Kiwi, who has never previously finished in the top three of any major skiing event, into first and on course for New Zealand's first ever gold medal at the Winter Olympics.

CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Porteous draped in the New Zealand flag after finishing on the podium.

"As you could tell, I had no clue that was coming. I was happy with the way I skied and it was something I could be proud of. For the judges to reflect that, it's insane."

Porteous was then knocked off top by Ferreira's second mammoth score of 96.00 but he could regain first place on his final run.

But he virtually aborted his last chance to potentially win the gold because he had "nothing left".

GETTY IMAGES Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski Synnott made history with their bronze medals in PyeongChang.

Wise's gold medal-winning run then nudged Porteous down to third and he had to anxiously wait as the final skiers pushed to crack the top three, but the delighted Kiwi remained in the medals and finished with bronze.

"I was nervous but I had done as much as I could. If it wasn't enough, then it wasn't enough," Porteous said.

"I don't know what's going to happen from here on. I've never made the podium of a big event before."

GETTY IMAGES Porteous finished third to take the bronze as two skiers from the United States won silver and gold respectively.

Beau-James Wells, who was New Zealand's flag bearer at the opening ceremony, missed out on a medal after finishing fourth with a best score of 91.60.

Kiwi teammate Byron Wells was forced to pull out of the final after sustaining an injury in the warm-up. Porteous' elder brother, Miguel, 18, failed to qualify.

​New Zealand's first and only previous Winter Olympics medal before the PyeongChang Games was alpine skier Annelise Coberger's silver in the women's slalom in 1992 in Albertville, France.

NEW ZEALAND'S YOUNGEST OLYMPIC MEDALLISTS

- Nico Porteous, (halfpipe) 16 years, 91 days, 2018 (bronze)

- Zoi Sadowski-Synnott (snowboard) 16 years, 353 days, 2018 (bronze)

- Danyon Loader (swimming) 17 years, 100 days, 1992 (silver)

- Terina Te Tamaki (sevens) 19 years, 79 days, 2016 (silver)

- Lydia Ko (golf) 19 years, 118 days, 2016 (silver)

- Eliza McCartney (pole vault) 19 years, 252 days, 2016 (bronze)

- Annelise Coberger (skiing) 20 years, 157 days, 1992 (silver)

- Stuff, AP