The Chillfactor Podcast – Zali Steggall on Ski Racing, the Winter Olympics, Climate Change and the Move into Federal Politics

February 3rd, 2022

Mountainwatch | Podcast Interview

In this episode of the Chillfactor podcast Reggae Elliss chats with four-time winter Olympian and Independent member for the federal seat of Warringah Zali Steggall. Zali is one of the legends of Australian skiing, the only Australian ski racer to win an Olympic medal when she won bronze in the slalom at Nagano in 1998 and the only Australian World Champion which she won in 1999.

Zali retired after the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake City and completed a BA in communications and media studies before undertaking a law degree. After being admitted to the NSW bar in 2008, Zali practised as a barrister in Sydney and her continuing interest in sport saw her appointed the International Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2017.

 

Zali on her way to the bronze medal at the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics.

In 2019 Zali entered federal politics when she won the seat of Warringah on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, ousting former prime minister Tony Abbott. Zali’s campaign focussed on climate change and integrity in government and she has pursued those and other issues over the past three years.

Reggae caught up with Zali on the eve of the 2022 Winter Olympics to talk about her experiences as an athlete, her life in politics, climate change action, the upcoming election and a lot more.

The Chillfactor Podcast is available on  Spotify,  and Soundcloud