Curtain Closes on Australia’s Most Successful Winter Olympics
Mountainwatch | Press Release
With three gold medals, two silver medals and a bronze medal, Australia’s most successful Winter Olympic Team says “grazie mille” to Italy. The Northern Alps have felt like a mini Australia, providing a “home Games” feel for the 55-strong Australian Winter Olympic Team.
The Aussies felt right at home in Milan, Livigno, Predazzo, Cortina, Bormio and Anterselva, delivering a string of historic results to finish 14th on the medal tally with more than 20 top-10 finishes and more than half the Team finishing in the top-15.
It took Australia 12 years to win three gold medals between 2010-2022. The Team of 2026 won three gold medals in three days.
“The Team of 2026 will never be forgotten for humbly rewriting the history books,” Australian Winter Olympic Team Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin said.
“They have lifted the baseline and set a new standard for what’s possible when everyone unites and works together as one – our member sports, the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia, the Australian Sports Commission, the State Institutes of Sport, Victorian and NSW Ski Resorts, State Government, Anika Wells, Minister for Sport and the Federal Government.
“These athletes have been sensational role models, providing lessons for all of us. They’ve shown that you become a better person through taking on life, pushing boundaries and being fearless in the face of both challenge and opportunity.”
Among the history makers, Cooper Woods became Australia’s seventh Winter Olympic Champion with three flawless runs to win the single Moguls – Australia’s first medal of the Games.
Jakara Anthony became the only Winter Olympian to win a second gold medal and the first women’s Dual Moguls Champion.
Matt Graham joined the elite club of eight who have won two or more Winter Olympic medals with bronze. His “dad podium” in the Men’s Dual Moguls was one of the most heartwarming moments of the Games.
Half of Australia’s medals were won by Mogul Skiers – a testament to the high performance program run by Snow Australia and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia and the NSW Institute of Sport.
Snowboarder Josie Baff became Australia’s eighth Winter Olympic Champion, beating two Olympic Champions in the final.
Scotty James became the first Australian Winter Olympian to win three individual medals with silver in men’s Snowboard Halfpipe.
Danielle Scott became the fourth Australian Aerial Skier to win a medal – a redemption run at her fourth Games.
Friday the 13th was Australia’s lucky day – the most successful day in Winter Olympic history with gold to Josie Baff and silver to Scotty James.
Australia finished 14th in the men’s Cross-Country Team Sprint with Hugo Hinckfuss and Lars Young Vik– Australia’s highest finish ever. Phoebe Cridland, Rosie Fordham, Ellen Soehol Lie and Maddie Hooker lined up to represent Australia in the women’s 4 x 7.5km relay for the first time.
Alpine Skier Madi Hoffman finished 23rd in Slalom – the best performance since Zali Steggall, with Phoebe Heaydon and Harry Laidlaw (Giant Slalom) also progressing through the field from their start positions.
With 32 Australians on debut, including five teenagers, the future looks bright for Australian winter sport.
“We believed in each other, and now, with all of Australia truly believing in Australian Winter Olympic sport, I can’t imagine what is possible – as we build towards 2030 and descend on the French Alps in four years’ time,” Camplin said.
