'I hope they have a couple of beers for me': NSW pub goes wild over local hero's stunning golden moment

The Top Pub Commercial Hotel in Pambula, a tiny town just outside Merimbula on the NSW south coast, probably hasn't seen a Thursday night like it.

Then again, it's not every week a local boy is going for gold half a world away in the Winter Olympics.

But as Cooper Woods did the unthinkable and became Olympic champion just before midnight, the cheers just about blew the roof off.

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Woods had just joined an exclusive club of seven Aussies to win gold at the Winter Games.

Appearing on the Nine desk in Livigno, Woods welled up as footage from that moment in the pub was played back.

He then revealed a glimpse of the pub on a big screen in Livigno during his earlier qualifying runs gave him a much needed lift.

"I got emotional ... I was standing in front of a screen down there (when it flashed up)," he said.

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"Merimbula and Pambula are such a special place, they've always had my back, no matter what. They've always been supportive if it goes good or if it goes bad. To see everyone at the top pub in Pambula going absolutely nuts, that's what you want.

"I hope they have a couple of beers for me."

Woods was also played a clip of his family's reaction, who were watching live in Livigno. There were tears by the bucketload, a sea of green and gold, and then his dad – cheering as if he was the one to have won gold – was hoisted into the air.

"This is the best thing ever - what a king!" Woods said through laughter.

"I've never seen my brothers be so emotional towards my skiing ... (or) my dad so emotional towards my sporting achievements.

"They ride the wave with me through the highs and the lows of an athletic career, and they've flown all this way to come over here to support me.

"To ski in front of them all for the first time, and at the Olympic Games, and to get a result like this is, this is more than everything I could ever wish.

"I'm not one to shy away from a celebration so I'm definitely looking forward to it. We've got a good excuse now.

"I wanted Australia to get around us. There are so many Aussies here, we can hear you, but I know back home, back in Australia there would have been many people awake, celebrating and cheering.

"That's what gets you across the line."

For Woods, the gold represents the pinnacle of a stunning two-year comeback from a knee injury that required cutting-edge surgery to fix.

A marrow graft was taken from his wrist, from which stem cells were harvested to repair his knee. He missed the better part of a whole season of competition.

It was his first major injury, and the complexity of the surgery meant his rehab and comeback timeline was a complete unknown. But, like many other athletes before him, the injury became a turning point in his journey.

"I've been clawing my way to get back on the podium. It felt like the dirt was kind of caving in on me at times, but I stayed true," he said.

"To have your gift, your athleticism, just walking around, the normal things taken away from you really puts a lot of things into perspective.

"It makes you not take things for granted, and since I've been back, starting from last season, that has been the motto – enjoy every moment, don't take it for granted, enjoy the places, enjoy the people, enjoy the culture.

"That just made me a lot more grateful, and now I'm here. It's now my favourite place ever."

Woods revealed his gold medal – like several others in these games – had already broken. The IOC has promised to have them repaired or replaced.

"I'd probably say within 10 minutes the thing had broken – that's why I can't have nice things," he said with a laugh. "We've stuck it back together, (but) there might be a few more dents in this by the end of the Olympics."

Speaking of beers, Woods couldn't get on them too hard. He still has dual moguls to prepare for, and has an early training session on Friday morning Livigno time.

But he couldn't resist having a special one during his appearance on the Nine desk.

It's a select group of Aussies who have won winter Olympic gold, and Lydia Lassila, who did so at the 2010 Vancouver Games in the aerials, was on-hand to welcome him to the club.

She scribbled a message to Woods on a bottle of Corona: "You absolute legend. Welcome to the club. Love, Lyd".

"She's unbelievable, isn't she," Woods said as he took a sip. "This is awesome."