Top 5 Female Athletes Steering Australia’s 2026 Winter Olympics Quest
The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina, Italy, mark an exciting chapter for Australian athletes. Although Australia is not traditionally associated with winter sports, several talented female athletes are carving out a name for the nation on the ice and snow.
Top 5 Female Athletes Steering Australia’s 2026 Winter Olympics Quest
This team of athletes offers a compelling narrative of skill, determination, and resilience. Here are the standout female athletes to watch in this year’s Games:
Jakara Anthony
At 27 years old, freestyle skier Jakara Anthony is the reigning world No. 1 in moguls. She aims to defend her Olympic title after winning gold at the Beijing 2022 Games. With an impressive 26 World Cup gold medals and seven Crystal Globes to her name, Anthony is a dominant force in her sport.
- Birthplace: Barwon Heads, Victoria
- 2024 Campaign: 14 wins from 16 starts
- Unique achievement: No woman has ever defended an Olympic moguls title
Tess Coady
Tess Coady made history by becoming Australia’s youngest Winter Olympic medallist at Beijing 2022, where she claimed bronze in snowboard slopestyle. Now, her sights are set on enhancing her performance in the women’s big air final, where she recently finished seventh—an Australian record for the event.
- Birthplace: Melbourne
- First snowboard experience: Age 9
- Best Olympic result: Bronze in Beijing 2022
Holly Harris
Holly Harris emerged as a promising ice dancer at this year’s Games, making her Olympic debut alongside partner Jason Chan. This marks Australia’s return to ice dance at the Olympics since 2014. They recently advanced to the Free Dance segment, securing their spot in Olympic history.
- Age: 23
- Born in: Sydney
- First national title: Achieved in 2019 with Jason Chan
Indra Brown
Sixteen-year-old Indra Brown is the youngest member of the Australian Olympic team. As the current world number one in freeski halfpipe, she already has a decorated World Cup season under her belt, including a gold medal in Calgary and a silver at the X Games.
- Birthplace: Melbourne
- Major achievement: Youngest Australian to earn a Winter World Cup medal
- Aim: Competing on February 19, 2026
Breeana Walker
Breeana Walker returns to the Olympics as a seasoned bobsleigh pilot. At 33, she has made significant strides in her sport, claiming three World Cup victories last season. Walker is a medal contender in both the monobob and two-woman events.
- Birthplace: Cairns
- Sport transition: From elite 400m hurdler to bobsleigh pilot in 2016
- 2022 Olympics result: Finished fifth at Beijing
These female athletes embody the spirit of Australian grit and determination at the 2026 Winter Olympics. As they compete for gold, their stories inspire the next generation of winter sports enthusiasts in Australia.
