Australia's Historic Winter Olympics Squad for Milano Cortina 2026
Australia has officially announced its most formidable Winter Olympics team to date, with a record-breaking contingent of 53 athletes set to compete at the Milano Cortina 2026 Games. The squad represents the nation's second-largest Winter Olympic selection and features a remarkable 62.3% female participation, marking the highest proportion of women in any Australian Summer or Winter Games team.
Teen Prodigy Indra Brown Headlines Youth Movement
The team's youngest member, 15-year-old freeskier Indra Brown, will make her Olympic debut following an extraordinary breakout World Cup season. The Melbourne native, who will turn 16 before the opening ceremony on February 6th, has already claimed three medals in her first three international events, including a gold medal performance that announced her arrival on the global stage.
"It's pretty special to be the youngest athlete for Australia at Milano Cortina," Brown said. "I started dreaming about being an Olympian in 2022 after seeing Jakara Anthony win gold in moguls. It was super inspirational and just gave me a lot of passion and desire to do it as well."
Veteran Champions Lead Medal Charge
Reigning Olympic moguls gold medallist Jakara Anthony spearheads Australia's medal hopes, with the 27-year-old Victorian now competing at her third Winter Games. Anthony will have a dual opportunity to add to her Beijing triumph as dual moguls makes its Olympic debut in the 2026 program.
"Each Winter Games has been a different experience for me," Anthony reflected. "My first one was going in with no real expectations, and the second one was going in as a gold medal favourite, and these ones will be going in as the defending champion."
Snowboard halfpipe specialist Scotty James will compete at his fifth Winter Olympics, fresh from a World Cup victory in Switzerland. The veteran athlete aims to complete his medal collection by securing the elusive gold that would crown his illustrious career.
Record-Breaking Team Composition and Form
The Australian team features 33 women and 20 men, with 27 athletes making their Olympic debut. This represents a significant increase from the Beijing 2022 squad that delivered Australia's record Winter Olympics medal haul of four medals.
Team chef de mission Alisa Camplin highlighted the squad's exceptional balance: "Whether you're talking about aerials, moguls, halfpipe, snowboard cross or bobsleigh, we now have many regular World Cup podium performers, so this is a well-rounded team of fierce competitors on snow and ice."
Australian athletes arrive in Italy with impressive momentum, having secured 26 medals across seven different disciplines during the current World Cup season. This includes 13 gold medals, with bobsleigh world number two Bree Walker contributing five medals to the tally.
Expanded Disciplines and Medal Prospects
The team will compete across 15 disciplines, including new Olympic additions ski mountaineering and dual moguls. With approximately 10 genuine medal chances identified, Australia appears well-positioned to surpass its Beijing 2022 achievement of one gold, two silver and one bronze medal.
Notable veterans returning for their fourth Games include moguls star Matt Graham and snowboard cross specialist Jarryd Hughes, both previous Olympic medallists. The only Beijing 2022 medallist not returning is retired skeleton competitor Jackie Narracott.
Camplin emphasised the team's unique composition: "There is such a unique blend of youth and experience in Australia's 2026 Winter Olympic team. It's iconic to have Scotty James at his fifth Games; balanced by an exciting pipeline of young talent, including five teenagers."
The selection process has not been without controversy, with three alpine skiing positions currently under appeal by athletes who missed selection. However, the overall squad represents Australia's most comprehensive Winter Olympic team ever assembled, combining proven champions with exciting new talent in pursuit of historic success at the Milano Cortina Games.
