Australia’s ‘Unlikely’ Triumph at the 2026 Winter Olympics

Editorial Assistant Maryam Bokhari celebrates Australia’s international wins in the recent Winter Olympics events and unravels how Australians have been able to consistently succeed in an unlikely athletic environment.

Neither sunburn nor frostbite could stop our Australian athletes as they concluded their historical victory in the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026. With a record-breaking total of three gold, two silver, and one bronze medals, this year has been Australia’s most successful yet. 

Kenneth Kennedy was the first Australian Winter Olympian in 1936, and six decades later,  Steven Bradbury became the first bronze and gold medal winner. With medals being won every Winter Olympics since (four medals in 2022, and six in 2026), Australia has snowballed into a consistent force to be reckoned with [2].

During their two weeks in Italy from 6-22 February 2026, Cooper Woods won gold in the men’s moguls, followed by Josie Baff with another gold in the snowboard cross. Scotty James won silver in the men’s snowboard halfpipe, becoming the first Australian Olympian to win three individual medals. Jakara Anthony made history as the only Australian Winter Olympian to secure a second gold medal and the inaugural champion in women’s Dual Moguls. Matt Graham secured bronze in the men’s dual moguls, and Danielle Scott received silver in Aerial Skiing. Additionally, Indra Brown secured fifth place in the freeski half-pipe at just 16 years old, Ally Hickman placed seventh place in the snowboard slopestyle event, and Bree Walker and Kiara Reddingius finished 10th in the two-woman bobsleigh. Australia concluded the competition in 14th place on the medal tally. The team also achieved over 20 top-10 finishes overall, with more than half of the athletes finishing in the top 15 [1].

But if Australia is known for its beaches and sunny skies, how did Aussies find success in winter sports? Internationally, it is often forgotten that our country also produces a significant amount of snowfall. Inspired by contestants and winners worldwide, many Australian athletes and coaches have created Australian winter sports programs credited with producing many of the esteemed athletes who compete in the Olympics. For example, programs such as Snow Australia are heavily invested in establishing interschool sport teams that introduce moguls to young, up-and-coming Australian athletes. Alisa Camplin-Warner, a former Australian Olympic winner, has even advocated for increased funding for winter sports, pointing out that this year’s achievements highlight Australia’s fiery potential, which should not be underestimated [2].

by Maryam Bokhari

References 

[1] Smale, S. (2026, February 22). Australia’s golden Winter Games another step towards sustained excellence. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-23/australia-s-most-successful-winter-olympic-games/106374682

[2] Smale, S. (2026, February 16). “How the hell” does Australia dominate moguls? The answer is no secret. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-02-17/australia-winter-olympics-moguls-dominance/106346256