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In 1936, Kenneth Kennedy made history as Australia’s first Winter Olympian. It was a lonely enterprise; not only was Kennedy the nation’s sole representative at the Games in Germany, but the speed skater was entirely unsupported, with no staff or Australian Olympic officials in attendance.
From those inauspicious beginnings, almost six decades would pass before Australia won its first Winter Olympic medal; bronze in the men’s 5000m speed skating relay (Steven Bradbury – later to become Australia’s most famous Winter Olympian – was a member of the team). But from famine, now a hearty Winter Olympics meal awaits Australians every four years – if perhaps not yet a medal feast.
Australia has won medals at every Winter Games since that bronze in 1994. Following record gold medal success in 2002 and 2010 (two gold medals apiece), and a historic overall haul in 2022 (four medals in total), Milano Cortina 2026 is already Australia’s best ever Winter Olympics. Once a summer Games heavyweight and a winter Games minnow, the nation is now punching well above its weight on the medal table; the Australians are currently ranked 11th, with the Games running until Sunday.
The first week of action in Italy came with condensed and unprecedented medal success. Cooper Woods began the medal flurry with gold in the men’s moguls on Thursday, before Josie Baff added another gold in the snowboard cross a day later, while Scotty James became Australia’s most decorated Winter Olympian with silver in the snowboard halfpipe. On Saturday, Jakara Anthony made it three golds in three consecutive days for team Australia – overcoming disappointment in the moguls to conquer the dual moguls in emphatic style. On Sunday, Matt Graham rounded out the medal haul with bronze in the men’s dual moguls.
Four days, five medals, three gold – an extraordinary Winter Olympics performance for Australia.
How did a nation better known for its beaches than its snow-covered mountains become a consistent Winter Olympics performer? In part, this success has come through clever strategy and targeted resource allocation. It is notable that across the 16 disciplines contested at these Games, all of Australia’s medals have come in two: freestyle skiing (moguls) and snowboarding. Since Australia’s moguls program was conceived in 1998, it has yielded 12 world championship medals and now four gold Olympic medals.
Investment in facilities has also been critical. A world class moguls course has been established by Perisher Ski Resort and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA), named “Toppa’s Dream”, after veteran Winter Olympics coach Peter Topalovic. Last year the OWIA invested in more snow guns for the course to ensure optimal training conditions.
Winter sporting bodies together with the federal and Queensland governments have also invested in a water ramp facility in Brisbane, to enable aerial and mogul skiers to practice their aerial skills over water. The facility, and a tradition of transforming gymnasts into skiers, explains how Australia has been able to reliably perform in the discipline despite not having a single snow-based aerial ski jump facility in the country.
But despite the past week’s success, there are fears of tougher times ahead. The increase in federal government funding for summer sports ahead of the home Brisbane 2032 Games has prompted concerns that winter sports might face cuts. “I really hope that winter won’t be forgotten,” chef de mission Alisa Camplin said recently.
Indeed it was noteworthy that moments after becoming the first Australian Winter Olympian to win two gold medals, mogul skier Jakara Anthony explicitly acknowledged federal sports minister Anika Wells. “I think we’ve already shown that we are so successful and that we’ve had our best Games ever,” Anthony said. “A lot of that’s due to the continuous support we’ve had from Anika Wells back in Australia.” It was a highly-unusual comment from an athlete, as long-time Australian sports policy observer Greg Blood pointed out.
With winter sports lacking the depth of commercial or public support of their summer counterparts, government funding is all the more critical. And while that funding has been forthcoming in recent years, it remains a fraction of the support for other sports. In the latest financial year, Snow Australia, the recognised peak body for skiing and snowboarding, received just $1.7m in high performance funding for able-athletes, on par with softball and bowls and less than lacrosse and boxing (the OWIA received substantial additional funding).
Efforts to resolve those anxieties, and planning for another four-year cycle, will begin in earnest in the weeks ahead. But first, more glory might await in Italy. Bree Walker and her bobsleigh pair partner Kiara Reddingius are an outside medal chance, while Australia’s youngest team member – 16-year-old Indra Brown – is among the favourites in the freestyle skiing halfpipe event. Four-time Olympian Danielle Scott is also a medal possibility in the aerial skiing.
From one competitor in 1936 to over 50 team members nine decades later, Australia has overcome its geographical and climatic disadvantages to become a Winter Olympic regular. But is Milano Cortina the summit for team Australia, or just a new base camp?
English (US)