Australian heartbreak and breakthrough in Women’s Moguls final

They say you can never predict an Olympic Final, and that sentiment rang true in the Women’s Moguls – an event that delivered both heartbreak and breakthrough moments for Australia.

Olympic debutant Charlotte Wilson shone on the sport’s biggest stage with a sixth place finish, while defending champion Jakara Anthony placed eighth. 

Coming in as the top qualifier, Anthony put down a clinical first run in finals, scoring 83.96 and again grabbed the top spot for the Super Final. 

As the last skier down the course, the 27-year-old opened strongly with a clean top air before uncharacteristically skiing out of the middle section. Though she recovered quickly and completed her run, she scored 60.81 to place eighth. 

Olympic debutant Wilson rebounded from her own mistake in qualifying on Tuesday with confidence and composure, delivering three outstanding runs on Wednesday. 

The 20-year-old topped the second qualification round with a 77.79 to secure her place in the finals, then improved again with a 78.38 in Final 1 to advance in fifth. Her final run, a 75.17, sealed an impressive sixth place on Olympic debut. 

“It’s pretty exciting, it’s definitely not what I anticipated when I came out this morning, but it just got better and better,” 20-year-old Wilson said. “I was focusing more on the skiing than the atmosphere and the outcome, and that really works for me and it paid off today. 

“This was my first Super Final this season… so I just wanted to take in as much as I could, but I’m definitely pretty excited to get sixth place.” 

The Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park was awash with green and gold fans, which Wilson said worked to her advantage on day two. 

“It was pretty amazing. I took it as a positive thing today and definitely tried to build from it, knowing that all these people are here because they’re proud of me and want to see me ski – not because they want to see me win a medal, but because they’re proud of me.” 

For Anthony, the Super Final was a tough end to an otherwise worldclass display of skiing through the earlier rounds. 

“I’m bummed obviously,” Anthony said. “I’m really proud of the skiing I was able to do on the course, I was skiing and jumping at such a high level and with good speed. I think I had what it took to take that top step – I showed that on the first couple of rounds – but didn’t put it down on the last when it counted.” 

A self-described perfectionist, the three-time Olympian said she will review the footage before turning her focus to the next opportunity.  

“It’s nice we’ve got the Dual Moguls – it’s not four years to wait until the next opportunity, it’s only three days, so definitely looking forward to that,” she said. 

“I’m still really happy with my process and how I went about this competition, and I still really think I had what it took. I’ll be going into Dual Moguls making a few adjustments because that sport is a little different – a bit more speed dependant – but we’ll shift the focus and learn what we can.” 

Wilson was also quick to rally around her teammate after the final. 

“I gave her a hug and told her I was proud of her,” Wilson said.  

“I’m super bummed for her. As a team we win together and we lose together and another three days and she’ll be back at it fighting for another gold. 

“I’m proud of her. Our Team and our country is proud of her, no matter what,” Wilson said. 

The women’s podium was an American one-two, with 20-year-old Elizabeth Lemley winning gold (82.30) ahead of her compatriot Jaelin Kauf (80.77), who won a second Olympic silver in this event. PyeongChang 2018 gold medallist, France’s Perrine Laffont (78.00), claimed the bronze.  

The Australian Women’s Moguls Team will return to the Livigno Aerial and Moguls Park for Dual Moguls on Saturday 14 February, when the head-to-head format makes its Olympic debut. 

First, the Australian Men’s Moguls Team take centre stage on Thursday 12 February, with Cooper Woods, George Murphy and Jackson Harvey aiming for top10 finishes in Qualification 2 to join Matt Graham in the 20skier final. 

Watch the Winter Olympics on Channel 9, 9Now, and Stan Sport. 

Australian Olympic Committee