Australian Snowboarders Excel to Reach Olympic Final
Australian snowboarders have made a significant mark in the women’s snowboard big air event at the Winter Olympics. In a thrilling competition, Meila Stalker, an Olympic debutant, and fellow Australian Tess Coady advanced to the final, showcasing exceptional talent and determination.
Highlights from the Women’s Snowboard Big Air Final
- Meila Stalker, aged 22, hails from Coolum on the Sunshine Coast.
- Tess Coady won bronze in the 2022 Olympics in slopestyle.
- World-renowned snowboarders who joined the finals included Anna Gasser, Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, and Kokomo Murase.
- Sadowski-Synnott, from Sydney, topped the qualifying rounds with a score of 172.25 points.
Meila Stalker Shines Under Pressure
Stalker entered the final ranked sixth after an impressive performance. Although she fell on her first jump, she executed a backside double cork 1080 on her second attempt, scoring 82.25. Her final jump saw an improved score of 82.75, pushing her higher up the leaderboard. This was the first occasion she performed this trick in a competition.
Stalker expressed her excitement, stating, “I had so much anxiety throughout the whole day, but I’m pretty glad to just kind of breathe through it and just get them down.”
Tess Coady’s Journey
Coady faced a tense moment waiting to secure her place in the finals. After being the first to jump in the last round, she nervously watched others compete, hoping her earlier score would hold up. “I felt like I was sitting in a pretty good position at the start of the last run,” she reflected.
Young Talent Ally Hickman
At just 16 years old, Ally Hickman impressed the crowd with her initial jump, scoring 85.25. However, she admitted that she had not prepared another elite-level jump. Hickman was thrilled to have participated in such a prestigious event, recalling a close call with a drone during her performance.
Looking Ahead
The final event concluded on Monday evening, with Stalker and Coady making significant strides for Australian snowboarding. Meanwhile, in other events, Australian four-time Olympian Alex Ferlazzo finished 18th in men’s luge, while competitors Hugo Hinckfuss and Seve de Campo placed 57th and 58th in men’s skiathlon, respectively.
