This is Australia’s most successful Winter Olympics. It could get even better

Livigno: Three gold medals in three days. In the words of Australian Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin: “it’s pretty mind-blowing”.

With Jakara Anthony’s gold medal in the women’s dual moguls on Saturday, the 2026 Olympics has become Australia’s most successful Winter Games after Cooper Woods won gold in the moguls two days earlier and Josie Baff won gold in the snowboard cross on Friday.

“It feels like a blessing the last few days, it’s everything we could have dreamed of,” Camplin said.

“We had a great team, highly credentialed, and we’re only halfway through, and we’ve had our most historic [Olympics] for a team. So I’m pretty overwhelmed, to be honest, on behalf of them.”

It’s the first time Australia has won three gold medals at a single Winter Olympics, and Anthony has become the first Australian Winter athlete to win two gold medals.

Previously, Australia’s most successful Games was in Beijing, where the team won four medals, but only one gold.

“When we looked forward at the way the schedule of the Games was set up, [there] was potential [for this] to happen,” Camplin said.

“You’re talking about serious competitors, none of these have been good luck, they’ve all been hard work and preparation.”

Moguls has now become Australia’s most successful Winter Olympic event, after Anthony won gold in 2022, Matt Graham won silver in 2018 and Dale Begg-Smith won gold in 2006 and silver in 2010.

That kind of success is no accident, said Anthony, it’s the result of investments in moguls training and facilities back in Australia, such as the Geoff Henke training centre in Brisbane, which has a water ramp.

“I think we’ve already shown that we are so successful and that we’ve had our best Games ever. A lot of that’s due to the continuous support we’ve had from [Minister for Sport] Anika Wells back in Australia,” Anthony said.

“Without that, to get the facilities that we have in Australia, we wouldn’t be where we are today. That continued support is what’s allowed us to keep progressing and to get here to where we’ve had our most successful Games ever.

“Hopefully, the next one is going to be even better. And with that support, I think we can keep showing the world that we aren’t the underdogs in winter sport, and we really can take them on.”

Camplin similarly called for further investment in winter sports, and said she hoped funding for Winter athletes didn’t suffer as Australia prepares to host the 2032 Summer Olympics.

“It is a big question with Brisbane 2032 coming, and the hope for additional funding into the national sports system. I think the Federal Government has been doing a great job, trying to keep funding in an ongoing state, but with a lot of focus on Summer [Olympics], I really hope that Winter won’t be forgotten,” she said.

“I feel that we’ve earned our stripes, we’ve methodically and systematically been laying down foundations for these kinds of performances in multiple sports.

“I feel that our athletes are the role models that Australia want to see. Their courage, and balancing risk and reward, and making sound decisions, entitles them to be as well funded as our summer athletes.

“So yeah, I hope there will be an uplift of funding for winter that’s on par with what our summer athletes will hopefully receive going into Brisbane 2032.”

Australia is expected to win more medals at the 2026 Olympics, with Bree Walker a favourite for gold in the monobob. Matt Graham and Woods are medal contenders in the men’s dual moguls on Sunday, while Indra Brown and Danielle Scott are also chances for the podium.

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

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