Teenage Snowboarder Ally Hickman Faces Olympic Final Without Coach
Australian teenage snowboarder Ally Hickman is navigating unfamiliar territory at her first Winter Olympics, with the 16-year-old now having to tackle a delayed slopestyle final without her coach by her side. The Sydney schoolgirl qualified for the 12-athlete final in seventh place, emerging as the only Australian to make the cut, while Beijing bronze medallist Tess Coady missed out on advancing.
Coach's Departure Amid Family Milestone
As if competing in an Olympic final and managing a weather delay weren't challenging enough, Hickman's coach Ryan Tiene has returned to Australia. His wife Dani is 39 weeks pregnant and expecting their third child any day, prompting his decision to head home. Tiene expressed his mixed emotions in an Instagram post, stating, "With the slopestyle final still ahead, I've made the decision to head home. Dani is 39 weeks pregnant and after some thinking I felt I had to get back to see our little man No.3 come into the world and be there for her. She's sacrificed so much for me to do this role."
While it's bittersweet not being there for Ally and finals day, we've worked out a run plan ... she's in good hands, Tiene added, confirming that head coach Ollie Midgley would step in to support Hickman during the crucial competition.
Rising Stars and Supportive Team Dynamics
Tiene also coaches Mela Stalker, another rising star who impressed in her Olympic debut by making the big air final. He praised the progress of both athletes, highlighting their mutual support and dedication. "Been an amazing two weeks at the Olympics, but more importantly an epic year with Ally and Meila," Tiene wrote. "They push each other and genuinely want the best for one another. I'm incredibly proud to stand beside them and help them chase their goals. Mela and Ally both making finals at the Olympic Games was the goal and they did it."
Hickman responded to his post with gratitude, saying, "Lots of love and thank you for everything." Her mother Kel also thanked Tiene and Stalker for creating "the most beautiful support team" for her daughter, acknowledging the sacrifices involved in such high-level competition.
Final Rescheduled and Medal Prospects
The slopestyle final has been rescheduled to start at 1430 on Wednesday local time, which corresponds to 0030 on Thursday AEDT. Hickman finds herself in a strong field where she is considered an outside chance for a minor medal. The competition features New Zealand's reigning Olympic champion Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, who was the top qualifier with a score of 88.08, and Japan's Kokomo Murase, who won the big air event with a top mark of 84.93 in qualifying.
No other competitor scored above 77 in qualifying, with Hickman's best score being 71.41. However, the young athlete remains optimistic, stating, "First run I was just trying to keep it safe and laying a score on the board and it's gotten me to finals which is so good. I want to have my best run, the run I've been dreaming about to land at the Olympics, in the final."
As Hickman prepares to hit the rails and jumps without her primary coach, her journey underscores the personal sacrifices and team dynamics that define Olympic competition, blending athletic pursuit with real-life milestones.
