AUSTRALIAN ATHLETES EYEING OFF WINTER OLYMPIC GLORY WITH SIX MONTHS TO GO

Six months from today the Olympic cauldron will be lit in Milano Cortina, with an expected Australian Olympic team of around 60 athletes set to compete from 6-22 February 2026.

Some 2900 athletes from more than 90 nations will go head-to-head in eight competition locations across the northern Italian Alps, making this the most geographically widespread Winter Olympics ever.

With qualification for most Winter Olympic disciplines based on athletes’ world rankings in January 2026, Australia’s athletes are intently building towards this vital upcoming season to make their Milano Cortina Olympic dreams a reality.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin said athletes and support staff are laser focused on doing everything possible to be at their best for the upcoming Olympic season.

“Six months out from Milano Cortina there’s immense anticipation,” Ms Camplin said. “No matter who you are, what your world ranking is or which sport you compete in, as an athlete you know that the next six months are vital to unlocking your dream and setting up your Olympic potential.

“Every minute, every rep, every practise counts, to put yourself in a position physically, emotionally, mentally and tactically to firstly make the Australian Winter Olympic Team and then represent at the Games. An Olympic dream is so powerful but it’s also incredibly fragile, you need to get so many things right to be at your best when your moment comes.

“I understand the opportunity and pressures our athletes are navigating, and I’m just so proud of the efforts that they and their coaches are putting in.

“Many of our teams are currently training and competing in world class facilities across Australia’s amazing winter resorts. From snowboard cross athletes at Mt Hotham to mogul skiers at Perisher, aerialists at Mt Buller, cross country skiers at Falls Creek, to park and pipe athletes at Thredbo, Australia’s winter resorts are providing the perfect training base for our Olympians and those aspiring to make their first Games in 2026.

“Our athletes really value the extra time on snow in the southern hemisphere, and they love sharing their passion, and the slopes, with young Australians who might one day also have Olympic aspirations.

“With 6 months to go, we are also focused on setting up the best Team environment we can for our athletes, honing in on areas like nutritional support, transport planning, wellbeing and medical coverage – we’re trying to find every positive edge we can to help our athletes in Milano Cortina.”

Beijing 2022 bronze medallist snowboarder Tess Coady (pictured), is currently training in Thredbo.

“It’s super exciting to be just six months from the Olympics, it’s crazy how quickly it’s come around,” the 24-year-old said.

“The next six months is about getting really confident in my riding and my tricks, to feel really good on my board and make sure I’m enjoying it a lot.

“I want a really great run for the Games and I want Aussie fans to be able to watch good snowboarding and good vibes.”

Bobsledder Bree Walker is looking to take her form from 2024-25 season, where she won five World Cup podiums to finish second overall, into the all-important 2025-26 season.

“It would be a dream come true to be heading to my second Olympics as part of the Australian Team,” Walker said. “To put on the green and gold is such an honour, I don’t ever take it for granted.”

“There’s a lot of work ahead of us, I haven’t slid on the track we’ll be competing in [at Milano Cortina].”

Currently based in Calgary for her pre-season dryland training and push training, the 32-year-old is putting in the work required to be one of the best in the world hurtling down bobsled tracks at over 130km/h.

“My goals over the next six months are firstly to get in great shape here in Calgary, secondly be as prepared as we possibly can for the season, third is to go and learn the track in Cortina. From there it’s to go out, race and try and win medals for Australia – and have a lot of fun doing it.

“Winter sports are full of so much action and excitement, I really encourage everybody at home to follow along this upcoming season.”

Alpine skier Louis Muhlen-Schulte has been making the most of the bumper Australian snow season, taking to the slopes at Mt Hotham to prepare for the upcoming season.

“It feels more real now, but there’s plenty of work to do,” he said. “Talking to everyone from other disciplines, everyone’s working hard, it’s sweet to see the winter sports environment in Australia growing and pushing hard to the Games.

“I train close to the Olympic venue [at Bormio], I know the environment and the area. It’s maybe not a home field advantage, but as close as I can be as an Australian in Italy.”

Australian Olympic Committee