An Australian has never defended their gold at a Winter Olympics. Jakara wants to change that

Five teenagers are among the 53 athletes who will represent Australia at the upcoming Olympics in Milano Cortina, as the country attempts to break its record for most medals won at a Winter Games.

The team, which includes gold medal favourites Scotty James, Bree Walker, Jakara Anthony and 15-year-old Indra Brown, will be the country’s second-biggest in Winter Olympics history with 27 athletes set to make their Olympic debut in February.

Australian athletes have won 26 World Cup medals so far in the 2025-26 season, including 13 gold medals, putting the country in prime position to win its most medals, and most gold medals, at a single Winter Games since they began participating in 1936.

The most medals Australia has won at a single Winter Olympics is four – one gold, two silver and one bronze – in Beijing.

Australia’s Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin said it was the most accomplished Australian team she had seen.

“The breadth and depth is really unique, and that’s why I call this an iconic team,” Camplin said.

“We’ve had 11 different athletes that have picked up those 26 World Cup medals over the last three months. Thirteen of them have been gold. So, we’ve not gone into a Games with that kind of profile before.”

Brown, who has stunned the freestyle skiing world by winning three medals in four World Cups – including gold in Calgary – said she was excited to be part of the Olympic experience.

“It’s pretty special to be the youngest athlete for Australia at Milano Cortina,” Brown said.

“I started dreaming about being an Olympian in 2022 after seeing Jakara Anthony win gold in Moguls. It was super inspirational and just gave me a lot of passion and desire to do it as well.

“I’m really excited just to get this experience that not many people are able to experience in their lifetime.”

If Brown wins a medal she will be Australia’s youngest Winter Olympics medallist. That record is currently held by Steven Bradbury, who was 20 years and 133 days old when he won bronze in 1994.

The other teenagers competing for Australia are Ally Hickman, Amelie Haskell, Daisy Thomas and Abbey Wilson.

Star snowboarder James will be competing at his fifth Olympics Games at Milano Cortina, where he is chasing that elusive gold medal after winning bronze in Pyeongchang and silver in Beijing.

Monobob athlete Walker is also favourite to win gold after claiming victory at three World Cup events this season.

Meanwhile, moguls skier Anthony will be defending her Olympic gold on the slopes in Italy.

“I’ll probably be classified as a veteran now,” Anthony said.

“Each Winter Games has been a different experience for me. My first one was going in with no real expectations and then second one was going in as a gold medal favourite.

“These ones will be going in as the defending champion. There’s a lot to learn on the way and things keep coming up that surprise me. I’m sure in these last few weeks there’s still a lot more to learn.”

Anthony will be trying to be the first Australian to defend a gold medal at a Winter Olympic Games.

Camplin, who attempted to do it herself at Turin in 2006 after winning gold in the aerials at Salt Lake City in 2002, said that it won’t be easy.

“We’ve had a couple of athletes in the past try and defend an Olympic title, myself included, [and] it’s very hard to do,” Camplin said.

“Going from being a hunter, to being the hunted, is a whole different experience ... and I don’t think anyone would want to see her change that record, and to potentially be our first back-to-back gold medallist, [than] myself.”

Read more of our Winter Olympics coverage

• His grandfather learnt to ski on a shovel. Now Valentino is going for gold
• An Aussie medal shot every night? Bradbury’s hot tip for the Winter Olympics
• Nick has spent $400,000 on this Olympic sport. It doesn’t exist in Australia
• Treadmills, roller skis and not a lot of snow: The life of an Aussie biathlete

The Winter Olympic Games will be broadcast on the 9Network, 9Now and Stan Sport.

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