Australia’s record-breaking performance at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics wrapped up with 16-year-old Indra Brown’s impressive fifth-place finish in freestyle skiing halfpipe. Just 5.5 points shy of a medal, Brown’s run marked the best result ever by an Australian under 18 at the Winter Games.
Young Star Brown’s Historic Run
Brown landed a 1080 spin—three full rotations—the first time she executed the maneuver in competition. She joined just one other athlete in achieving it during the final. Despite her youth and limited senior experience, Brown displayed exceptional poise under pressure.
Her effort, alongside Rosie Fordham’s solid showing in the 50km cross-country ski event, capped Australia’s campaign. The team secured three gold, two silver, and one bronze medals, placing 14th overall—ahead of Great Britain and trailing powerhouses Canada, Japan, and China.
Smart Investments Fuel Success
Australia’s achievements stem from innovative training facilities compensating for limited natural snow. The Geoff Henke Winter Olympic Sports Training Centre in Brisbane features water landings for aerial and mogul skiers, the southern hemisphere’s only such site. It contributed to most medals.
Silver medalist Danielle Scott in women’s aerials credits the 2021-opened facility for keeping her in the sport. “I would have quit without it,” Scott stated.
Snow Australia’s world-class dry slope airbag in Jindabyne enables year-round practice for skiers and snowboarders. The head of Snow Australia notes, “We compete best in sports trainable off snow.” All but Josie Baff’s snowboard cross gold fit this category. Both facilities launched within five years, yielding immediate results.
Calls for Boosted Funding
Australian chef de mission and former gold medalist Alisa Camplin-Warner urges more support. “Winter sports have been disproportionately funded,” she said. “We’re grateful, but equalizing funding lets us reach the next level and more Australians chase dreams.”
Winter sports garnered under $40 million in federal high-performance funding over the Olympic cycle, dwarfed by summer disciplines like swimming’s nearly $20 million this year for able and para-athletes. Concerns rise that Brisbane 2032 focus might sideline winter efforts. Many athletes, including Brown—who crowdfunds via the Australian Sports Foundation—operate on tight budgets.
Bright Horizons Ahead
Brown heads to the FIS Park and Pipe Junior World Championships in Canada next week, delaying her flight due to weather. She balances elite competition with high school, tackling linear equations between qualifiers.
Judges shifted from technical skills in qualifying to amplitude in the final, limiting Brown—maxing at three meters—to fifth behind bronze medalist Zoe Atkin’s five meters. Time will build her height.
Over half of Australia’s 50 Olympians debuted in Italy. Their success signals even greater achievements at the next Winter Games.
