Moguls medal hopes named as Olympic flagbearers

[ad_1] Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham will fly the flag for Australia on the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Video games opening ceremony.

The 2 Olympic medal-winning moguls skiers have been introduced as flag bearers in Livigno on Wednesday morning, native time.

"It is in all probability one of many greatest honours you may obtain as an Olympic athlete," defending Olympic champion Anthony mentioned.

"I am nonetheless misplaced for phrases over it.

"Pondering again to rising up and seeing all of the flag bearers that we have had for Australia, Summer time and Winter, and to now get to face alongside them and have that honour, it is fairly mind-blowing."

Jakara Anthony is the number-one ranked moguls skier and defending Olympic champion. ( Getty Photographs: Agence Zoom/Millo Moravski )

Anthony, 27, has gained three World Cup occasions this season and comes into the Olympics because the number-one ranked moguls skier on the planet

These three titles this 12 months imply she has gained extra World Cup gold medals than every other Australian, with 26 in whole.

Graham, 31, has loved one in all his greatest seasons on the World Cup circuit in a few years, sitting second within the total standings with two podiums and claiming his first victory in a World Cup since Deer Valley within the 2022/23 season.

Graham's victory in Ruka was shared with Anthony, the third time in historical past that Australia has claimed gold medals in each males's and ladies's occasions on the identical day.

The PyeongChang silver medallist is showing in his fourth Video games, and the brand new father is raring to bounce again after harm cruelled his preparation for the Beijing Video games 4 years in the past.

"Representing Australia at an Olympic Video games is an honour in itself, and to now have the privilege to steer out, on paper, what's in all probability one of the best staff within the historical past of Australian Winter Olympics may be very particular," Graham mentioned.

"To do it alongside my teammate Jakara, we have had lots of particular reminiscences collectively, and that is one other one for the books."

Matt Graham and Jakara Anthony have shared loads of moments collectively of their profession. ( Provided: AOC )

Anthony, who suffered a collarbone harm much like Graham's that dominated her out of the 2024/25 season, mentioned it was essential to share the second along with her long-time teammate.

"It is actually particular to share it with Matt," Anthony mentioned.

"I've at all times regarded as much as him; he is 4 years forward of me. I've seen lots of milestones of Matt's profession.

"I noticed him win silver in PyeongChang 2018 and get his first Crystal Globe [in 2020/21], and I have been capable of share the highest step of the rostrum with him a few instances.

"Now we get to share this one, so we're actually racking up the milestones collectively."

Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham have been each ranked first within the total moguls standings. ( Provided: Kate Blamey )

Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin-Warner, a two-time Olympic medallist in aerials, praised each her freestyle snowboarding compatriots on their choice.

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"Jakara Anthony is the epitome of poise and excellence," Camplin-Warner mentioned.

"Her measured but dogged pursuit of perfection has set her aside from her rivals for a complete Olympiad.

"Jakara is in a league of her personal. Position mannequin, Olympic Champion and a younger Australian who units her sights on one thing and does not hand over. I'm so proud to call her flag bearer.

"Matt is a long-term chief on this staff and competes with sheer grit and sportsmanly grace. He has performed all of it — the hungry debutant in Sochi, the silver medallist in PyeongChang and an harm comeback for Beijing — on paper, that is greater than sufficient to turn into flag bearer.

"However what I really like about Matt, is how he at all times lifts the staff and carries the Aussie spirit when he competes. He deservedly carries the Australian flag into the Milano Cortina opening ceremony."

The 2026 Olympics get underway on Friday with the point of interest of the opening ceremony going down in Milan's San Siro stadium.

Nevertheless, a number of different areas may even be utilised, with celebrations additionally going down in Livigno — the place Anthony and Graham will carry the flag — in addition to Predazzo and Cortina.