Aussie Mogul Skiers to Carry the Flag

Defending Olympic Champion Jakara Anthony and four-time Olympian Matt Graham have been selected as the Australian Flag Bearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Opening Ceremony.

The 2022 gold medallist Jakara Anthony and 2018 silver medallist Matt Graham were named by Australian Winter Olympic Team Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin AM OLY at a Ceremony in Italy today.

Today Australia’s 16^th and 17^th Winter Olympic Team Flag Bearers are announced.  This is the ultimate recognition for athletes that exhibit the Australian characteristics of courage, perseverance and leadership. 

For Jakara Anthony, who hails from Barwon Heads in Victoria, she enters her third Games ranked world number one. To carry the flag for the Opening Ceremony adds to an already historic season where she has now won more World Cup gold medals than any other Australian (26 in total).

“It’s probably one of the biggest honours you can receive as an Olympic athlete. I’m still lost for words over it.

“Thinking back to growing up and seeing all the Flag Bearers that we’ve had for Australia, Summer and Winter, and to now get to stand alongside them and have that honour, it’s pretty mind-blowing.

“It’s really special to share it with Matt, I’ve always looked up to him, he’s four years ahead of me. I’ve seen a lot of milestones of Matt’s career. I saw him win silver in PyeongChang 2018 and get his first Crystal Globe and I’ve been able to share the top step of the podium with him a couple of times and now we get to share this one, so we’re really racking up the milestones together,” 27-year-old Anthony said.

Matt Graham won a silver in the Moguls at PyeongChang 2018. The ultimate Team man, he is recognised for the years of sustained excellence, competing and succeeding at the highest level of his sport.

“Representing Australia at an Olympic Games is an honour in itself and to now have the privilege to lead out, on paper, what’s probably the best Team in the history of Australian Winter Olympics is very special.

“To do it alongside my teammate Jakara, we’ve had a lot of special memories together and this is another one for the books.” 31-year-old Graham said. 

Announced at an official ceremony in the Northern Italian town of Livigno – home to Freestyle Skiing and Snowboard events during the Games – Anthony and Graham were popular and well-credentialled choices.

“I am thrilled to name Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham as our 2026 Australian Winter Olympic Team Flag Bearers,” Australian Winter Olympic Team Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin AM OLY said.  

“Jakara Anthony is the epitome of poise and excellence. Her measured yet dogged pursuit of perfection has set her apart from her competitors for an entire Olympiad. There are athletes in our Team who saw Jakara win gold in Beijing, and it sparked their Olympic dreams, and there will be many more. 

“Jakara is in a league of her own. Role model, Olympic Champion and a young Australian who sets her sights on something and doesn’t give up. I am so proud to name her Flag Bearer.

“Matt is a long-term leader in this Team and competes with sheer grit and sportsmanly grace. He has done it all. 

“The hungry debutant in Sochi, the silver medallist in PyeongChang and an injury comeback for Beijing – on paper that’s more than enough to become Flag Bearer. 

“But what I love about Matt, is how he always lifts the Team and carries the Aussie spirit when he competes. He deservedly carries the Australian flag into the Milano Cortina Opening Ceremony.”

Milano Cortina is pioneering a new widespread Opening Ceremony, taking place in different locations on February 6 (local time).

San Siro Stadium in Milan is the focal point, with celebrations also taking place in Livigno – where Anthony and Graham will carry the flag – as well as Predazzo and Cortina, where delegations will parade in the areas of their respective competitions. ​​

Camplin also invited four and five-time Olympians to march at the front of Australia’s delegations.

For the first time, two Cauldrons will be lit simultaneously – in Milano and Cortina.

The Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games start on February 6. Australians are expected to compete every day of the Games.