Australian Aerials Team Narrowly Misses Podium in Thrilling Winter Olympics Final
The Australian Winter Olympics team experienced a bittersweet penultimate day of competition, with the aerials squad agonizingly close to securing another medal while teenage sensation Indra Brown faced frustrating delays in her quest for history.
Heartbreak in the Aerials Team Event
Soaring skier Danielle Scott, fresh from her individual aerials silver medal earlier in the Games, delivered what she described as "pretty special" performances but couldn't quite push the Australian team onto the podium in the mixed team aerials final.
The 35-year-old, who has been named flag-bearer for the closing ceremony alongside moguls gold medallist Cooper Woods, produced a lifetime best run of 120.20 points during the competition. This remarkable score was higher than any other woman in the event and bettered by only three male competitors.
"I just wanted to put everything out there again and do the best for this team," Scott admitted afterward. "I was way more nervous."
Team Composition and Performance
The Australian trio, featuring two women and one man in their lineup, surprised everyone by qualifying third before ultimately finishing fourth in the final. The team consisted of Scott, Abbey Willcox, and Reilly Flanagan, who together fell just 23.64 points short of bronze.
Flanagan stepped up with his own lifetime best performance of 95.88 on his final run, but Scott's second effort of 95.30 proved less impressive than her opening salvo. Combined with Willcox's score of 64.86, the team's total of 256.04 wasn't quite enough to secure a medal.
"To be in a final at the Olympics is huge for us, we really put everything on the line," said Scott. "I'm just proud of these guys. We did a good job."
Flanagan described his performance as "the best feeling in my life," despite the team's near-miss.
Competitive Landscape and Challenges
The Australian team faced significant challenges in the competition format. Male aerial skiers attempting tricks with higher degrees of difficulty are routinely scored higher than their female counterparts, putting teams with different gender compositions at a potential disadvantage.
The United States team of Kahlia Kuhn, Connor Curran, and Christopher Lillis proved untouchable with a winning score of 325.35. Switzerland claimed silver with 296.91 points, while China took bronze with 279.68.
Frustratingly for the Australians, their score of 289.04 from the opening run would have guaranteed bronze if they had managed to replicate it in the final.
Absence of Key Team Member
The team was also unfortunate to compete without double world champion Laura Peel, who injured her knee during a pre-Games training camp. Her absence was keenly felt in a competition where every point mattered.
"We'll come back stronger, we'll have more DD (degree of difficulty in the jumps) and hopefully some more guys on the team if anyone's interested!" said Scott, looking toward future competitions.
Weather Delays Affect Teenage Prodigy
Meanwhile, 16-year-old Melbourne schoolgirl Indra Brown faced disappointment of a different kind. The teenage freeski prodigy had been expected to attempt to become Australia's youngest ever Winter Olympics medallist in Saturday night's halfpipe final, but heavy snow in Livigno forced postponement of the event.
The competition has been rescheduled for the final morning of the Games on Sunday, with organizers hopeful they've seen the last of the snowstorms that have disrupted the schedule throughout the competition.
Other Australian Performances
Elsewhere on the penultimate day of competition, Australia's top sledder Bree Walker finished a credible 10th in the two-women bob alongside brakewoman Kiara Reddingius. Her great German rival Laura Nolte successfully defended her crown with Deborah Levi at the Cortina Sliding Centre.
Earlier in the day, Seve de Campo slogged home in 41st place in cross-country skiing's 50km classic, more than 22 minutes behind Norwegian legend Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, who became the first Winter Olympian ever to win six gold medals in the same Games.
Medal Hopes Remain Alive
Despite the aerials disappointment, Australia still hopes for one more medal to accompany the three gold, two silver, and one bronze already secured during what has become their most successful Winter Olympics ever.
Brown represents a decent chance in her rescheduled halfpipe final, where she will face formidable competition including US-born Chinese superstar Eileen Gu. The Australian team now looks to their youngest member to potentially cap off a historic Games with one final moment of glory.
