Australian freestyle skiing sensation Jakara Anthony has etched her name into the history books, becoming the nation's most successful World Cup skier of all time.
A Record-Breaking Victory in Tough Conditions
The 27-year-old from Victoria secured her monumental 26th World Cup moguls title with a commanding performance at Waterville Valley in the United States. This historic achievement sees her surpass the previous Australian record held by aerial skier Jacqui Cooper.
After a 24-hour delay due to poor weather, Anthony delivered a flawless and speedy run in the medal round. Her performance, featuring a cork seven and a backflip mute grab, earned a score of 81.17, making her the only female competitor to break the 80-point barrier at the event.
Perfect Timing for Olympic Defence
This dominant win is Anthony's third World Cup victory of the season and arrives at the perfect moment. It places her in an ideal position to defend her Olympic gold medal in less than a month's time at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Games.
"It hasn't been the easiest comp this month and the season's been all over the place, so I'm just super stoked to put down a few really clean runs," Anthony said after her victory. "It's a nice place to leave the World Cup season on hold until the next one." She was also a double winner at the same venue last season.
Americans Elizabeth Lemley (78.12) and Olivia Giaccio (76.60) rounded out the women's podium. Lemley, 19, secured her second straight podium this season after missing last year with an ACL injury.
Men's Event and Australian Contingent
In the men's competition, Japan's Ikuma Horishima took victory with a score of 85.56, despite opting for a safer run due to icy conditions. "I was a little bit nervous for the finals as these were very tough conditions," Horishima admitted.
Sweden's Filip Gravenfors finished second (80.54), while Japan's Shota Hirayama earned his first World Cup podium in third (79.47). For the Australians, Matt Graham – who, like Anthony, wore the yellow bib as overall rankings leader – finished 16th. Cooper Woods placed 22nd, and Charlotte Wilson came 13th in the women's event.
Anthony's record-breaking feat not only cements her legacy as an Australian winter sports great but also sends a powerful message to her rivals with the defence of her Olympic crown now just weeks away.
