Jakara Anthony's Olympic Wardrobe Mishaps Lead to Golden Redemption
Super skier Jakara Anthony has experienced a rollercoaster of wardrobe blunders at the Winter Olympics, first rescuing a teammate before needing help herself. The Australian athlete reclaimed her golden form at the Milan-Cortina Games, bouncing back from a heartbreaking individual moguls disappointment to secure dual moguls gold, inspired by three-time Olympic champion Jessica Fox.
Podium Panic and Borrowed Gear
Despite being a strong medal contender, Anthony faced an unexpected challenge ahead of the medal presentation. When teammate Cooper Woods won a surprise gold medal this week, he realised he had no shoes for the podium ceremony. In a generous move, Anthony lent him her boots, leaving her to stand in the snow wearing only socks. This experience, however, did not prevent her from forgetting crucial clothing items for her own dual moguls event.
The 27-year-old had to turn to retired 2014 Olympic moguls skier Taylah O'Neill, who is working with the Australian team in a media role. Anthony borrowed O'Neill's pants, beanie, and shoes for the ceremony, while O'Neill completed her duties in Anthony's gold medal-winning ski boots, avoiding a similar sock situation.
Golden Comeback with Fox's Support
Anthony triumphed in the dual moguls after narrowly missing out on becoming the first Australian to defend a Winter Olympic gold medal in individual moguls last week. She had a powerful ally in six-time Olympic canoe medallist Jessica Fox, who has embraced the winter scene so much that she changed her flights to stay longer in Livigno.
Fox, also a member of the IOC's Athletes Commission, presented medals to Cooper Woods and Scotty James and has been a constant presence at events. She comforted Anthony after the devastating individual moguls loss and celebrated wildly when Anthony won gold in the dual moguls.
A Special Bond and Inspirational Advice
Anthony revealed that she and Fox have formed a special bond. "When I was home injured last year, I went up and watched Jess and Noemie Fox race up in Penrith and I got to have some really good chats with Jess," Anthony said after her race. "We talked about a few experiences we've had that are pretty similar and then she was here the other day when it didn't go my way. She's been in that exact same position before, so there's not many people that have been in that position and can kind of understand and give advice, so I was really fortunate to have her here and then for her to be here today to see the turnaround, that was really special too."
Fox shared flag bearer advice with Anthony, having led the team in Paris in 2022, and emphasised the importance of self-trust. "It's been really special to be here and watch her and support her," Fox told AAP. "I think for her, it's always been really about doing good runs and putting down the best performance because she knows that when she does that, she's got a good chance of being on top of the day. You can't control the result, you can only control what you're putting out there in your performance and so if she just focuses on that, then the rest will come. I'm sending all my good vibes to all the Aussies out here because what they're doing is incredible."
Anthony is now a two-time Olympic gold medallist, showcasing resilience and teamwork in the face of unexpected challenges.
