Alisa Camplin’s Milano Cortina reflections

When I left Australia in the middle of Summer, my hope was that this Australian Winter Olympic Team would be fully seen and truly appreciated.  

I called them a “once in a generation Team” and our dream was to show the world, that we are a real Winter Sports nation. 

We had ambition, because we’d worked so hard together to earn our right to compete! 

And when our moments came, we didn’t shy away.  

But what’s been happening here in Milano Cortina, has in many ways, gone beyond our wildest dreams…  

The Team of 2026 created history.  

With 3 gold medals, 2 silver medals and a bronze medal, this is Australia’s most successful Winter Olympic Team. 

Looking back in time it took us 12 years to win 3 gold medals between 2010-2022. 

The Team of 2026 won 3 gold medals in 3 days. 

Every day, a new piece of history has been created and more and more Australian’s looked up, tuned in and hopefully felt inspired too.  

Scotty James with his unwavering drive to break new ground, became the first Winter Olympian to win three individual medals.  

Jakara Anthony bouncing back from early disappointment, became our first Winter Olympian to win a second gold medal – just extraordinary! 

Matt Graham joined the elite club of 8, who’ve won two Winter Olympic medals. His “dad podium” was definitely one of the most heartwarming moments of the Games.   

Cooper Woods became our 7th Winter Olympic Champion when all the pressure was on. He owned the moment with 3 back-to-back flawless runs, a steely belief and a beautiful sense of fun.  

Half of our medals were won by Mogul Skiers – a testament to the professionalism and great care within their high-performance program.  

Josie Baff became our 8th Winter Olympic Champion. She was the master of her own destiny, controlling her race and beating 2 prior Olympic Champions, to become our first Snowboard Cross gold medallist. What a sport, what a confident competitor! 

AND Danielle Scott, the fourth Australian Aerial Skier to win an Olympic medal. Her fourth Olympics, has been a story of courage and redemption. She jumped with her heart on her sleeve and showed us all, that if you don’t give up, dreams come true.  

Beyond medals, there have been so many other spectacular performances for us here in the Northern Italian Alps: 

Our Cross-Country skiers have taken their sport to new heights. Australia finished an astronomical 14th in the Men’s Cross Country Team Sprint – our highest finish ever – and our women qualified for the Team Relay for the very first time. 

Alpine Skier Madi Hoffman finished 23rd – our best performance since Zali Steggall. 

We had over 20 top-10 finishes, 

And over 50% of the Team finished in the top-15. 

We really hoped to inspire all Australians, but it seems we’ve also taken the world by storm – currently sitting 14th on the medal tally.  

Our story started with an optimistic bang – Valentino Guseli with just 3hrs notice, stole the show in the Big Air qualifiers with his infectious energy and a clutch performance. He’s part Italian too, so you couldn’t have scripted it better.  

In Milan, Torvill and Dean called our beautiful Ice Dancers, Holly Harris and Jason Chan, the future of figure skating.  

Our athletes received good luck messages from legends like Cathy Freeman, Layne Beachley, Hamish and Andy, Oscar Piastri, the Matildas and Mick Fanning. 

Even IOC President Kirsty Coventry sent this team a very special congratulations message. 

The world has come to know our names… our stories… and importantly our depth of character.  

What these 55 athletes have done for Australia’s reputation on the winter world stage is incomparable.  

They’ve shown kids everywhere that you can come from the land down under, and win Winter Olympic gold. 

You can live in Townsville, Cairns or the West Australian goldfields and compete in a sliding sport like Alex Ferlazzo, Bree Walker and Kiara Reddingius.  

You can grow up in the city or the country, and throw tricks onto an airbag or do jumps into a pool, and then stoke your passion and you skills in our Aussie snowfields.  

Many on this team overcame great hardship, injury or heartbreak, and then with team support lifted to new heights here in Milano Cortina.  

Our Team also experienced great sadness with Cam Bolton and Misaki Vaughan forced to withdraw after serious injuries during training.  

Laura Peel and Daisy Thomas fought every day to make it to the start line, falling short with absolute dignity in physical defeat. 

When an Olympic dream goes out, we all hurt. 

But, with those struggles, came beautiful stories of this Team pulling together. As Cam Bolton was ruled out, rookie Jimmy Johnstone got his Olympic start. The 21-year-old was “doing it for Cam.”  

A young Sid Stephens joined our Aerial Team, and landed the best jumps of her life. Team mate Abbey Willcox jumped with “love Laura” on her gloves.  

And what about Ally Hickman, at the ripe old age of 16, laying down a ripper first fun, then bruises her sternum but gets back up, to do an impressive final run in the Snowboard Slopestyle. Such Aussie grit from our “tough little teen.”  

Beyond the results, what I am most proud of, is this Team’s character. Each and every member of this Team gave it their all. 

As Scotty James said:  

“There is something powerful about knowing you gave your full self to a moment. No holding back. No excuses. Just commitment. And sometimes the result doesn’t match the dream exactly, but the effort defines you.” 

These athletes have been sensational role models, providing lessons for all of us.  

I think of how Jakara Anthony spoke after her single Moguls event – such grace under duress – the way she talked to her personal disappointment was magnanimous.  

That same day Charlotte Wilson laid down her best career performance to finish 6th in the same event. She was completely overwhelmed afterwards by the simple realisation – that she was now an Olympian.  

Skeleton athlete Nick Timmings self-funded his dream to qualify for the Olympics, driven by a simple purpose: if he could inspire one kid to dream big by racing for his country at the Olympics, then it was all worth it!  

It means everything to wear the Olympic rings on your heart. 

Winter sport is definitely different to summer sport. There is a higher level of risk, the natural elements play a huge part, and danger is always looming. So it takes something extra to succeed, not just from our athletes, but from our entire system.  

And we’ve built that system steadily, understanding what works, and then expanding and sharing that know how across sports. The breadth and depth of this Teams success, has been decades in the making – the Australian system of winter sport working together. 

To Snow Australia, Biathlon Australia, Bobsleigh & Skeleton Australia, Ice Skating Australia, Luge Australia, Australian Ice Racing and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia; to Anika Wells our Minister for Sport, the Australian Sports Commission, the AIS European Training Centre, and all of our State Institutes of Sport; to the Victorian and NSW Ski Resorts, and every coach, volunteer and official who has helped along the way – this is a huge team effort and our success is a credit to you believing in and committing with such passion to Winter Sport.  

A massive thankyou to the Australian Government and every single taxpayer, for funding our winter sports and their athletes – we don’t waste a single dollar, and we simply would not have systemic success without your ongoing support, and that of our State Governments too.  

As a nation, we were bold enough to build the Geoff Henke Olympic Training Centre in Queensland and the National Snowsport Training Centre in Jindabyne.   

Two-thirds of our medallists trained on the Brisbane water jump, and Dani Scott is the first to tell you it extended her career. These were the game-changing decisions and pivotal investments that will enable generations of kids to try winter sport and grow in the future.  

A huge thank you from me also, to the AOC’s fantastic network of commercial partners. We needed the largest ever winter budget for this team, and you were there for us. We’re so grateful for the momentum and exposure you’ve provide to our athletes. 

Also a special shout out of thanks from me, to the magnificent Team behind the Team who have worked tirelessly over the last 4 years, and especially over the last four weeks, to always prioritise our athletes and to support our coaches in every way possible. We set high standards for ourselves, and it’s been amazing to see us collectively deliver on that vision.  

To the media, you have all been next-level. You’ have put in the long hours standing on ice and snow, telling our stories and sharing our journeys. In particular, thanks to CH9 and Stan Sport – our athletes can’t thank you enough for helping our Nation to really know them, so Australians could root for them and truly get behind them.  

I’ve heard there have been over 14million viewers watching us – greater numbers than the Ausralian Open (despite the time zone). That’s the power of the Olympics… Kids staying up late with their mums and dads, watching the best our country has.  

As a result, we now have a new generation of children with dreams in their hearts and sporting systems that can help those dreams come true.  

Here in Italy, it has felt like there were more Australian supporters in the stands, than any other nation. So I’d particularly like to acknowledge and recognise the very special role of more than 500 families and friends all here, decked out in green and gold and bringing the love.  

An athlete’s journey, is a whole family’s journey. And we know how proud they are, and how much they’ve put into their loved ones. 

We’ve also had phone calls from the Prime Minister, seen watch parties in community centres and Surf Clubs, and thousands of school kids have been sending messages of hope and support.  

These incredible athletes reached into the hearts of everyday Australians because of how they carried themselves.  

The Team of 2026 was built on love, support, courage and character. We rallied around each other and lifted each other up in ways nobody will ever know.  

Our record number of returning Olympians were the leaders of this Team, and they helped imbed our incredible culture. 

The pure joy between mates when Matt Graham lifted Cooper Woods onto his shoulders was one of those public moments that sums up the spirit of this Team. 

But what I was lucky enough to see behind the scenes was the real heartbeat of this team – it was the little gestures, values and integrity in action, that the world didn’t get to see.  

It was a connectedness between athletes, the service of the Team behind the Team, a green and gold bridge between different competition locations, and a group who deeply respect each other.   

The real magic has been in all the quiet words, the knowing looks, hands on hearts and kisses blown. There was gentle encouragement, determined fist pumps and hundreds of hugs. 

The shared journey and emotional connection across this team has been simply priceless.  

And that’s the warmth, safety and care I really wanted for this Team. 

Particularly when the chips were down, when the weight of the world was heavy, or when hopes and expectations were just a lot… Our athletes reached out, shared their vulnerability and fears, gave and received words of wisdom, and lifted each other up … so we could all keep fighting for the Australian crest we all wear so proudly on our chest. 

I told the world this would be an iconic team. The Team of 2026 will never be forgotten for humbly rewriting the history books. They have lifted the baseline and set a new standard for what’s possible when everyone unites and works together as one.  

They’ve shown that discipline, resilience, and perseverance matters.  

That you become a better person through taking on life, pushing boundaries and being fearless in the face of both challenge and opportunity.  

And that with teamwork and integrity – Magic happens!  

We believed in each other, and now, with all of Australia truly believing in Australian Winter Olympic sport, I can’t imagine what is possible – as we build towards 2030 and descend on the French Alps in 4 years time. 

And beyond that, well, perhaps the world should watch out, because Aussie kids are growing up now, knowing that if you chase a big dream, surround yourself with great people, and work both hard and smart… Absolutely anything is possible!  

Alisa Camplin 

Australian Winter Olympic Team Chef de Mission