Nico Porteous and Zoi Sadowski-Synnott show their happiness after a great day for New Zealand in PyeongChang.

It's a sporting fairytale to match the Disney fantasy Frozen – 26 years since New Zealand won its first Winter Olympic medal, then two on the same day as a new Snow Prince and Princess were born.

Zoi Sadowski-Synott is the princess, Nico Porteous the prince as both Wanaka teenagers won bronze in a dramatic few hours at PyeongChang.

It was five-ring magic. It was Murray Halberg and Peter Snell winning 5000m and 800m gold at Rome, it was Hamish Carter and Bevan Docherty going one-two in the triathlon in Athens.

CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES New Zealander Nico Porteous celebrates with David Wise after the pair each won Winter Olympics medals.

And it was pulled off by the youngest- and second-youngest Kiwi athletes to win an Olympic medal. Both are 16, with Porteous the junior at 16 years 91 days.

READ MORE:

* Zoi's schoolmates are silenced

* Sadowski-Synnott wins bronze

* Porteous shocks with bronze

* Kiwi skaters miss out on bronze

* Olympic curse continues for skater

* Gay 'icon' Rippon takes final skate

* Support snow sports, or keep quiet

In a flurry of snow and smiles, it was Sadowski-Synnott who was first transformed into the youngest New Zealand Olympic medallist.

New Zealand has tripled its Olympic Winter Games medal count in a single stunning afternoon at PyeongChang 2018.



Zoi Sadowski-Synnott’s bronze medal has been followed up by bronze from Nico Porteous in the men’s freeski halfpipe.



Read more: https://t.co/lVf753oKFM#EarnTheFern pic.twitter.com/HThTu0ra9Q — NZ Olympic Team (@nzolympics) February 22, 2018

There was joy, fluttering flags, and waving silver fern banners – a medal to savour ending a long wait, after Annelise Coberger had put the silver fern on a Winter Olympic podium for the first time in 1992.

But there was no time for savouring. Sadowski-Synnott swiftly turned into the entree when Porteous turned tricks to win an unexpected fist-pumping bronze in the men's free-ski half-pipe.

RYAN PIERSE/GETTY IMAGES Zoi Sadowski-Synnott enjoys her big moment after winning bronze in the snowboard big air.

To many he was transformed from the ugly frog of the three Kiwi qualifiers for the final, into a soaring, sliding, rotating, spinning prince.

So unexpected was his medal the TV commentators said they could not tell viewers a great deal about him, as they did not believe he would feature.

Brothers Beau-James and Byron Wells were meant to be the great black and silver hopes, not Porteous who was second last in qualifying.

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.

But it proved to be Porteous, known as Nipsy due to being one of the youngest skiers on the circuit.

Byron Wells was injured in training and couldn't compete while Beau-James lived up to his qualifying standards, finishing fourth.

Porteous' brother Miguel was rated a bigger hope than Nico going into these games, but missed out on qualifying for the halfpipe final.

CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY IMAGES Nico Porteous, the Snow Prince of New Zealand skiing after his bronze in the men’s freeski halfpipe.

"It never gets too competitive between us. It never gets to the point where we don't speak to each other. Just a few punches."

Hamilton-born Nico first tried skiing aged four in France, and transitioned to freestyle skiing at age nine.

HIs heroes are Miguel, British freestyle skier James Woods, and New Zealand freestyle skiers Jossi Wells, Beau-James Wells, Jackson Wells and Byron Wells.

MAJORIE COOK/STUFF Wanaka snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, at 14 and climbing the ranks of the snowboarding world.

Sadowski-Synnott switched to snowboarding at nine, joining in on her older sister's lesson at SnowPark NZ, encouraged by her brothers and dad.

With her family keen to teach her the tricks of the trade, her competitive nature kicked in and she began to enjoy the energy and excitement of event days and the challenge of putting down big tricks in front of a crowd.

A family Christmas holiday in Whistler, Canada is her earliest memory of snow and probably where her love of sliding began, she said.

"I was about four and it was the coolest thing ever, we went sledding down the road!" she said.

Zoi began riding park and was soon talked into entering her first competition – a rail jam in Whistler – by her brother.

As the only girl taking part and hitting just one small feature, she was nonetheless "pretty stoked" to be awarded first place.

CRIS JOHNSTON Zoi Sadowski-Synnott is used to scary stuff. Here she is on Halloween seven years back. (Clockwise from front) Illume Sadowski-Synnott, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, Tait Scurr, Louis Hughes, Briar Hight, Harry Hughes.

Sadowski-Synnott was born in Australia, moving to New Zealand aged six.

Her father Sean is a New Zealander, her mother Robin is American. She has two older brothers.

Zoi was named Snow Sports NZ Overall Athlete of the Year for 2017 as well as Snowboarder of the Year.

At the world champs in March 2016, she finished fourth in Big Air and claimed a silver medal in slopestyle.

She went on to claim World Cup gold in slopestyle in Spindleruv Mlyn two weeks later, and at 16 is the youngest woman to win gold in snowboard slopestyle.

Sadowski-Synnott finished 13th in the women's snowboard slopestyle at PyeongChang 2018 before winning bronze in the women's snowboard Big Air.

When she's not on snow, Zoi focuses on schoolwork at Mount Aspiring College, where she loves skating and spending time with friends.

She turns 17 next week.