Australia's Top 10 Medal Hopes for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics
Australia is gearing up for a historic campaign at the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, with high expectations to surpass its previous best performance. The nation's 53-strong team, the second largest ever sent to a Winter Games, includes a formidable lineup of athletes who have demonstrated exceptional form in the current World Cup season. Following a record-breaking haul of four medals at Beijing 2022, Australia now boasts at least ten genuine podium contenders, setting the stage for what could be a landmark event for the country's winter sports programme.
Building on Past Success
The Beijing 2022 Olympics saw Australia achieve its greatest Winter Games tally to date, securing one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal. This achievement has fuelled optimism that the upcoming Games will yield even greater results. During the recent World Cup season, Australian athletes have already amassed an impressive 26 medals across seven different disciplines, highlighting the depth and talent within the squad. Five of the six medallists from the past two Olympic cycles are set to return, including defending champion Jakara Anthony, providing a solid foundation for success.
Key Athletes to Watch
Here are the ten Australian athletes who are considered the nation's primary medal hopes for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, listed in alphabetical order.
1. Jakara Anthony
As the reigning Olympic moguls champion, Jakara Anthony is on a mission to become the first Australian to win consecutive winter gold medals. The 27-year-old has been in scintillating form, recently securing her 26th World Cup moguls title to become Australia's most successful World Cup skier. Despite suffering a broken collarbone in training during December 2024, Anthony has recovered strongly and currently holds the number one ranking in traditional moguls. She will also compete in the newly introduced dual moguls event, doubling her chances of standing on the podium in Italy.
2. Indra Brown
Teenage sensation Indra Brown has taken the freestyle skiing world by storm, despite being only 16 years old. In her debut World Cup season, she secured a full set of medals in the freeski halfpipe, including a gold, silver, and bronze, and claimed the top ranking. Brown further showcased her talent by winning silver in the superpipe at the X-Games in Aspen, finishing behind Great Britain's reigning world champion Zoe Atkin. As one of five teenagers on the Australian team, Brown's rapid ascent makes her a strong contender, though she will face stiff competition from dual Olympic champion Eileen Gu of China.
3. Tess Coady
Tess Coady, Australia's youngest Winter Olympic medallist, earned a bronze in snowboard slopestyle at Beijing 2022 while competing with a fractured ankle. Her career has been marked by resilience, particularly after an ACL injury ended her Olympic debut at Pyeongchang 2018 before it began. Now 25, Coady is showing signs of returning to peak form, with a fourth-place finish in the X-Games slopestyle and a strong start to the season in World Cup big air events. She will compete in both slopestyle and big air at Milano Cortina, events in which she has previously been a world champion.
4. Matt Graham
Veteran moguls skier Matt Graham is seeking redemption at his fourth Olympic Games. After winning silver in Pyeongchang, his hopes for Beijing 2022 were derailed by a training injury and a fractured collarbone. Graham has returned to strong form, with a World Cup gold at Ruka and a silver at Val Saint-Come, earning him a number two ranking heading into Milano Cortina. The 31-year-old will benefit from his extensive experience, particularly in the newly added dual moguls event, where he aims to challenge for a medal.
5. Valentino Guseli
Versatile snowboarder Valentino Guseli made his Olympic debut at just 16, finishing sixth in the halfpipe at Beijing 2022. Since then, he has won medals in slopestyle, big air, and halfpipe events. After recovering from an ACL injury in December 2024, Guseli has focused his podium ambitions on the halfpipe, where he won World Cup gold in Calgary in January. Currently ranked number two, the 20-year-old is considered one of the main rivals to his teammate Scotty James in the event.
6. Scotty James
Five-time Olympian Scotty James is determined to complete his medal collection by adding a gold to the silver and bronze he has won in the snowboard halfpipe at the past two Games. James recently made history at the X-Games in Aspen, landing a switch backside 1440 for the first time in the event's history. The 31-year-old has kept a low profile this season while perfecting new tricks, returning to win the World Cup event in Laax in January. He will face strong competition from teammate Valentino Guseli and a talented group of Japanese riders, including the injured reigning Olympic champion Ayumu Hirano.
7. Adam Lambert
Snowboard cross veteran Adam Lambert has finally broken through for his first World Cup victory on his 75th start, followed by a bronze medal in Dongbeiya. This success has propelled him to the number one ranking heading into his third Olympic campaign. The 28-year-old is in career-best form and will also compete in the mixed team snowboard cross event alongside fellow Jindabyne rider Josie Baff, doubling his medal chances. Jarryd Hughes, a silver medallist from four years ago, will also represent Australia, though his recent form has been less consistent.
8. Laura Peel
Aerials veteran Laura Peel is chasing an elusive Olympic medal at what is likely to be her fourth and final Games. The 36-year-old is a two-time world champion and has finished at the top of the World Cup rankings on three occasions, including in 2025. Despite a slight dip in form this season, Peel won World Cup gold in Lac-Beauport with a triple twisting back somersault. With two fifth-place finishes at the past two Olympics and a repertoire of triple jumps, Peel remains a strong contender for a podium finish in Milano Cortina.
9. Danielle Scott
Like her teammate Laura Peel, Danielle Scott is heading to her fourth Olympics in search of a maiden medal. The 35-year-old has enjoyed considerable success elsewhere, including four world championship podium finishes and back-to-back aerials crystal globe titles in 2023-24. Scott has returned to form with a World Cup gold and bronze at Lake Placid, demonstrating her ability to perform under pressure. Her experience and skill make her a genuine threat in the aerials competition.
10. Bree Walker
Monobob pilot Bree Walker is one of Australia's strongest gold medal prospects, having won five medals in the current World Cup season, including three golds. Ranked number two globally, the 33-year-old former hurdler is poised to improve on her fifth-place finish at Beijing 2022. Walker will also compete in the two-woman bobsleigh event with brakewoman Desi Johnson. Her main rivals for the top step of the podium include American reigning champion Kaillie Humphries and Germany's top-ranked Laura Nolte.
Conclusion
With a blend of experienced champions and emerging talents, Australia's Winter Olympic team is well-positioned to make history at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. The combination of proven performers and rising stars across multiple disciplines suggests that the nation's record medal tally is under serious threat. As the Games approach, all eyes will be on these ten athletes as they strive to bring glory to Australia on the world's biggest winter sports stage.
