Home
Newsroom

Anthony’s second place secures ‘best ever’ title

Daniel Lane

Section Lead, Media & Communications

NSWIS scholarship holder Jakara Anthony has added yet another achievement to her already impressive resume . . . she’s officially Australia’s most successful winter sports athletes after celebrating her 42^nd career podium after finishing second at the Ruka FIS World Cup event in Finland.

The 26-year-old’s effort to finish behind French star Perrine Laffont – a five-time world champion who is returning to action after taking a year off competition – ensured she eclipsed aerial skier Kirstie Marshall, who finished her career with 41 podium appearances, as Australia’s most successful winter sports athlete.

While Anthony scored better for her jumps in the final than Laffont, she was pipped for first place by 1.13 points.

The 26-year-old defending World Cup champion, who won a record-breaking 14 out of 16 events last season, said she was pleased with the way she has kicked off her 2024-25 campaign.

“I got three runs down which is the first thing you need to do to be in it,” Anthony told the OWIA at the base of the famous Battery Run. “I’m pretty happy with what we were able to achieve.

“Walking away with a second place at the start of a super long season is a really good way to kick it off.”

She also hailed the return of Laffont, who won the 2018 Olympic gold medal, as a bonus in the lead up to next year’s Milano Cortina 2026 Olympics.

“I think it’s great to have so many chicks up there at that top end of the sport,” Anthony said.

“That’s what makes it exciting, we’re all going out there each day, fighting for that top spot which means we’re all pushing each other, and we’ve really seen the sport progress over the past few years.”

NSWIS Mogul skier Charlotte Wilson was impressive on World Cup debut, finishing in 20th and just a few points away from a final appearance.

In the men’s event, Australia’s Matt Graham finished in 10th place after qualifying third for the final, with 2022 Olympic finalist Cooper Woods finishing 13th. Graham was presented with a cricket bat to acknowledge the 100th World Cup start of his career.

Canadian legend Mikaël Kingsbury won for the 11th time on the Battery Run to claim a record extending 91st overall World Cup title.

The moguls circuit shifts to Idre in Sweden next week for a single and dual moguls program.

Meanwhile, NSWIS Ski Park & Pipe athlete Joey Ellis also impressed on his World Cup debut at the Beijing, China Big Air World Cup by finishing 40th in a stacked field.

NSWIS Scholarship athlete Ben Tudhope (pictured above) continued with the sensational Para Snow Board form he displayed throughout last season, finishing the first block of the international season with two prized world cup silver medals.

NSWIS winter sports events coming up this week:

6 & 7 December 2024: Freestyle moguls World Cup Idre Fjall, Sweden (1 x Moguls and 1 x Dual Moguls)
- Jakara Anthony
- Charlotte Wilson
- Matt Graham
- Cooper Woods
- George Murphy
- Oliver Logan