The Olympics is awesome and then it’s awful and then it’s awesome again.
There are hundreds of Australians right now in Livigno, Italy. Most have travelled to cheer on our freestyle and park and pipe athletes, some are relatives, some friends, some past Olympians and even a former Prime Minister.
All sport the green and gold in face paint, retro style Pit Viper sunnies, bucket hats, onesies, some with tees naming the athlete they’re here for, others in football style jerseys doing the same, all with a mob of inflatable kangaroos seen from afar.
The observation deck at the Livigno moguls course was pumping by the time Jindabyne local, Charlotte Wilson,and fellow PLC Sydney alma mater, Emma Bosco, took to the second qualifiers, their do-or-die chance to make the Olympic finals and a potential medal.
Wilson, the 2024/2025 FIS World Cup rookie of the year, is familiar with the Livigno course. She won gold here in duals in the test event last season. Both her and Bosco are at their first Olympics, proud families in tow.
It was 20 year-old Wilson who took the lead that was never challenged. Taking her place in the finals with 77.79, a score that put her bang smack in the middle of the finals pack at 10th position. Emma Bosco sat just outside the top 20 qualifiers, but now she is an elite club of skiers that can call themselves Olympians.
Beijing 2022 Gold Medalist Jakara Anthony from Barwon Heads was at the top, ready to defend her Beijing medal and become the first Australian Winter Olympian to win back-to-back gold.
Once you’re in the moguls venue in Livigno you cannot leave. Literally. If you leave then your ticket becomes void and you cannot re-enter. The crowd is forced to stay for two hours between the second qualifiers and the final. It’s not bad when you’re surrounded by fellow Aussies all super pumped munching paninis and sipping Coronas under a European sun.
The energy was palpable on the Aussie deck as the clock ticked. The Anthony’s had got here early and secured a public cordoned off watching area in which to witness potential history being made. Sue Anthony (Jakara’s mum) was hugging Deb Graham (Matt Graham’s mum) prior to the event.
Few parents know this feeling as winning a medal at the Winter Olympics as an Australian is no easy feat but both mother’s children have done it, and done it in moguls, Graham took silver in 2018 at PyeongChang.
Today, however, was going to be Jakara Anthony’s day, Matt Graham’s final will come tomorrow. Joining today’s parental fan fare for finals was Kelli and Nick Wilson, parents of not just Charlotte Wilson but fellow Aussie team member, Abbey Wilson who competes in SBX.
Australian officials in long green coats and matching outerwear pace up and down the lanes for accredited individuals, counting down the moments, solid in the knowledge that Jakara is on form, she said so herself. So it must be ok.
“Four years ago I was in the best place I’ve ever been and I’d say now it’s equivalent, hopefully a step up, I’d say I feel just as good as the last Games.”
And boy did she step up, knocking it out of the first final park with a score of 83.96, one of the highest moguls scores for women in Olympic competition.
Meanwhile the jet rocket from Jindy did what she came to do, a “rinse and a repeat” of her qualifying run, upping the ante by another point with 78.38 and joining Jakara in the super final of eight.
For a moment, in the second final, Wilson was on the podium, sitting pretty in the bubble spot of third. Along came, Elizabeth Lemskey of the USA, who threw down a run that sent the crowd crazy, scoring 82.30 and catapulting her to the top.
Game was well and truly on with just Hinako Tomitaka, Jaelin Kauf and Jakara Anthony to go. Tomitaka scored 78, equal to Perrine Lafont then Kauf threw down an 80.77, sitting in silver position.
All 27-year-old Anthony had to do was repeat her run before and she’d take the gold.
But then chance took a part and the Beijing Gold medalist, current FIS World Cup yellow bib holder and holder of 26 FIS World Cup golds, slid off balance on the 13th turn after her 7 cork with mute grab, her skis crossed ever-so-slightly and she slid off course.
And just like that, one pocket rocket from Jindy took the highest place of an Australian so far at the Milano Cortina Winter Games in sixth place while Anthony’s dream was broken. Lafont ended up with bronze due only to her turns score that was higher than Tomitaka’s and the American took gold and silver.
“I think I really had what it took to win there, I showed that in the first couple of rounds but I just didn’t put it down on that last time, when it counted,” said a visibly upset Anthony.
There were tears, of course. Wilson crying into coach, Kate Blamey’s shoulder, the same coach that worked with Peter McNiel to get Jakara her first Olympic gold, Britt Cox joining in for a three way hug, sobbing at Anthony’s’s brutal loss and Wilson’s inspiring result.
The Aussie deck of supporters didn’t know which way to turn, celebrate Wilson while feeling for the brutality of sport and Anthony.
This won’t be the last broken moment served up by the Winter Olympics, nor will it be the last light shining on new names to watch.
The Olympics is awesome, and then it’s not.
