Bold take: Australia’s Jakara Anthony has secured a historic milestone by capturing two Olympic golds, including the first-ever dual moguls title. And this is just the start of a new chapter for winter sport in Australia.
Jakara Anthony, 27, entered the dual moguls event—new to the Olympic program—with a steely focus after her Beijing misstep in the regular moguls event, where a footing error cost her a medal. She charged through the early rounds in dual moguls, showcasing ruthless speed and precision, and then defeated three Americans in succession, vanquishing singles champion Elizabeth Lemley of the USA in the semi-finals.
In the final, the competition unfolded with skiers racing side-by-side down the Livigno course, judged on turns, jumps, and speed. Anthony bested American Jaelin Kauf in the big final to claim the crown, earning 20 points to Kauf’s 15. A chorus of Australian supporters on the mountain waved yellow inflatable kangaroos as the victory banner rose.
Kauf earned her second silver of these Games, while Lemley claimed bronze in the small final by edging France’s Perrine Laffont. Anthony’s triumph makes her the first Australian winter athlete to win two golds, marking 2026 as Australia’s most successful Winter Games to date. She joined moguls skier Cooper Woods and snowboard cross athlete Josie Baff as Olympic champions in Italy, while Scotty James added a silver in the men’s snowboard halfpipe.
During the medal ceremony, Anthony’s radiant smile reflected her historic achievement. She had been the favorite in the singles but faltered in her second run, finishing eighth. In the solo moguls event, competitors race the course alone and the highest score wins.
Meanwhile, snowboarder Scotty James, fresh off a painful halfpipe final loss, signaled his intent to keep chasing gold in four years. At 35 by the next Games, he expects fierce competition, notably from rising Japanese challengers led by Yuto Totsuka, who edged James Friday to clinch a second consecutive halfpipe gold for Japan.
James offered a candid view on processing defeat: it’s okay to be upset, to cry, and to feel frustrated. He reminded fans that tomorrow brings a new day and that the moment to celebrate will come when he passes the medal to his son—a symbol of pride beyond any single medal.
Earlier on Saturday, Australia faced heartbreak as Laura Peel withdrew from the Olympics due to a knee injury. Peel, a two-time aerials world champion, ruptured her ACL at a February pre-Games training camp in Airolo, Switzerland, and chose to withdraw rather than risk further damage. Her recent form had suggested medal potential after a World Cup win in Canada, but the injury decision underscored the unpredictable toll of Olympic-level sport.
Peel’s note on social media detailed the setback: two weeks earlier she suffered an ACL rupture among other injuries, yet she had given her all to keep the Olympic dream alive. She expressed gratitude for the support network around her and acknowledged that while medals would have been welcome, the relationships built through the sport hold greater significance.
Would you celebrate Anthony’s historic two-gold achievement as a turning point for Australian winter sport, or do you think the emphasis should shift to maintaining consistency across all disciplines? Share your thoughts below.
