Australia Poised for Winter Olympics Success: Meet the Key Athletes

Australia is preparing with great anticipation for the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, showcasing several athletes who are poised for success. This year’s games will feature notable competitors such as Bree Walker, Scotty James, and Jakara Anthony, each aiming for top honors.

Key Athletes to Watch

Bree Walker

Bree Walker, a 33-year-old monobob athlete, recently completed a remarkable World Cup season. She secured three gold medals, along with one silver and a bronze in the women’s monobob category. Although she finished fifth at the 2022 Beijing Olympics, Walker has since changed her head coach and push coach, enhancing her performance significantly.

This season, she will also compete in the two-woman bobsleigh alongside Kiara Reddingius. Walker believes she is in her best shape mentally and physically. She stated, “I can confidently say, hand on heart, I’m in the best shape of my life and best headspace of my life.”

• Competition Dates:
  • Women’s monobob heat 1 and 2: February 15, 8 PM AEDT
  • Women’s monobob heat 3 and 4: February 17, 5 AM AEDT

Scotty James

Scotty James is a five-time Olympian aiming to complete his Olympic medal collection. He has previously won a bronze in PyeongChang in 2018 and a silver in Beijing in 2022. Recently, he showcased his skills by winning gold at the X-Games in Aspen, marking his fifth consecutive victory with a historic switch backside 1440.

James expressed his desire for Olympic gold, stating, “From an accolade perspective, and having a stone left unturned, the gold is definitely [what I want].”

• Competition Dates:
  • Men’s halfpipe qualifying: February 12, 5:30 AM AEDT
  • Men’s halfpipe final: February 14, 5:30 AM AEDT

Jakara Anthony

Jakara Anthony, the defending Olympic champion and flag-bearer for Australia, enters the Games ranked world No. 1 in women’s moguls. Seeking to make history, she aims to become the first Australian to defend their Olympic gold medal at the Winter Games.

Reflecting on the competition, Anthony noted the challenges ahead. “We’ve done everything that we can to put me in the position where I can put down the run that I’m capable of,” she stated.

• Competition Dates:
  • Women’s moguls qualifying: February 11, 12:15 AM AEDT
  • Women’s moguls qualifying: February 11, 9 PM AEDT
  • Women’s moguls final: February 12, 12:15 AM AEDT
  • Dual moguls: February 14, 8:30 PM AEDT

Broadcast Information

The Winter Olympic Games will be broadcast across Australia on the 9Network, 9Now, and Stan Sport, providing fans with the opportunity to support their athletes throughout the event. Australian athletes are ready to showcase their talents on the international stage, and expectations are high for their performances in Milano Cortina.