Ski slopes and ice rinks might not sound like obvious arenas for Australian athletes to excel in. But make no mistake: as the Winter Olympics return in 2026, a new wave of competitors are proving that cold-weather excellence isn’t bound by geography.
From seasoned Olympians chasing career-defining moments to the youngest-ever emerging talent set to make their debut on the world stage, Australia’s Winter Olympics team is shaping up to be one of its most competitive yet. As the road to Milano Cortina unfolds, these are the Australian athletes you'll want to know.
Jakara Anthony
View this post on Instagram
27-year-old Jakara Anthony has already proven herself on the slopes, winning gold at the 2022 Beijing Games, tpo become Australia's sixth-ever Winter Olympic medallist. Despite hailing from the beachy Barwon Heads in Victoria, Anthony has found mega success in the Freestyle Skiing category. This year, she'll be bidding to become the first Aussie to win two golds at the Winter Olympics. And she's in good stead to do exactly that, having taken out the World Cup earlier this year.
Scotty James
View this post on Instagram
Scotty James is basically synonyms with snowboarding at this point. The 31-year-old Melbourne local will be making a bid for his third Olympic medal this year — and his first ever Gold — in the halfpipe event. If he earns a spot on the podium, he'll be the first Australian to take home three Winter Olympic medals. Like Anthony, he's had a good run up to the event, winning the World Cup and X Games — his last two competitions before the Games.
Tess Coady
View this post on Instagram
Tess Coady represents the new guard of Australian snowboarding. 2026 marks the third Olympic Games for the 25-year-old, who became Australia’s youngest Winter Olympic medallist with her snowboard slopestyle bronze at Beijing 2022. This year, she'll be competing in both slopestyle and big air.
Indra Brown
View this post on Instagram
At just 16, Indra Brown is set to make her Olympic Games debut in Milano Cortina, where she'll compete in the Free Ski Half Pipe. She might be the youngest member of the Australian team, but don't let her age fool you: Brown is currently ranked number one in the world in this event, and just recently became the youngest Australian to ever win a World Cup medal in any winter sport.
Valentino Guseli
View this post on Instagram
20-year-old Valentino Guseli is gearing up for his second Olympics in 2026. He made his debut at juts 16 in Beijing, where he finished sixth. He's currently the Halfpipe air world record holder, so will definitely be making a bid for the podium this year.
When are the Winter Olympics in 2026?
For Australians, the Winter Olympics will kick off with the opening ceremony at 6am AEDT on Friday, 7 February. They'll run for two weeks, concluding on 23 February with the closing ceremony at 6am AEDT.
Where to watch the Winter Olympics from Australia
There are a few ways to follow the action along from Australia. You can watch like on Channel 9, or stream via Nine Now and Stan Sport.
Due to the time difference, each day's schedule will kick off at about 7pm AEDT.
