Jakara Anthony has done it again. Australia's moguls skiing champion claimed her second Olympic gold medal in the dual moguls event, just days after a devastating crash in the singles competition. The victory marks a remarkable turnaround for the 25-year-old, who became Australia's first two-time Winter Olympic gold medallist.
Anthony's path to the podium was anything but smooth. In the singles moguls event, she dominated every run before crashing out in the super final, leaving her in shocked silence. However, with the support of her team, she bounced back to win the first-ever Olympic dual moguls gold medal. 'To be able to turn that around with the help of my support crew around me has been a pretty massive feat,' Anthony said.
The dual moguls event was only Anthony's second in about two-and-a-half years, following a season lost to injury and multiple event cancellations. Despite the lack of competition experience, she delivered when it mattered most. 'I was doubting myself a bit this morning after what happened the other day,' she admitted. 'But by the end I was just pretty sure I was going to give it my best shot.'
Anthony's record speaks for itself: she has won more World Cup events than any Australian skier in history, with nine of her 26 wins coming in the duals format. Her latest gold medal adds to her legacy, and she credited her support network for helping her regain belief. 'I have so many people believing in me, helping me get that belief in myself,' she said.
The victory was especially sweet for Anthony, who had her friends and family in attendance. 'To have my friends and family here, for it to be the first-ever dual moguls gold medal at the Olympics given out, to be the first Australian to have two gold medals... this one's just special for a whole lot of other reasons,' she said.
