Uni of Newcastle Star Matt Graham Advances in Winter Olympics Despite Mistakes
Australian Olympic champion Jakara Anthony has maintained her flawless Games record, remaining unbeaten through five rounds of competition after topping the women's moguls qualifying in Livigno. Meanwhile, fellow flagbearer Matt Graham, a former University of Newcastle student, also secured advancement in the men's event, albeit with some self-criticism over his performance.
Anthony's Dominance Continues
Four years ago, Anthony started strong in qualifying and swept through subsequent rounds on her way to winning Australia's first women's moguls gold medal. At 27, she joined Graham as one of two Australian skiers to bypass the next qualification round. Graham, the 2018 silver medallist, grabbed the 10th and final spot in the men's event earlier on Tuesday, scoring 75.77 points.
Matt Graham and Jakara Anthony served as team flagbearers at the Livigno opening ceremony. Graham, ranked world No.2, expressed disappointment with his run, stating he had "a lot of room to improve." Out of the starting gate in 15th position, he endured a nervous wait before locking down a finals berth. Japan's Ikuma Hiroshima led qualifying with 85.43 points, while Canada's Julien Viel surprisingly edged out teammate Mikael Kingsbury for second place.
Graham's Reflections and Resilience
"I just got a little bit out of time and out of rhythm in the middle section and then a little bit hung up on the last turn into the bottom air, so look, not my finest and a lot of room to improve," said the 31-year-old Graham. "The moguls are a little catchy, so you've really just got to be in time and in sync with the bumps, but yeah, unfortunately I just made a few mistakes."
Despite the errors, this result marks a sweet comeback for Graham, who bowed out heartbreakingly in qualifying at the Beijing Games while skiing with a broken collarbone. With 30 skiers starting the event, the top-10 avoid the second qualification round, proceeding directly to the first final. The format has changed from Beijing, where skiers could compete five times; now, there are only two finals, with eight skiers in the medal round, up from six in 2022.
Anthony's Confident Performance
Anthony expressed satisfaction with her qualifying run, emphasizing she achieved her goal. "I felt like it was what I needed to put down for qualifications, it felt pretty tidy and that's what we came out here to do today," she said. "My goal was just that I wanted to get through in qualification one so that I just have the chance to come out for finals tomorrow and I don't need to worry about qualification two. So, yeah, happy."
Americans Elizabeth Lemley and Olivia Giaccio followed Anthony, with French 2018 Olympic champion Perrine Laffont also in the mix. In the women's event, Charlotte Wilson placed 28th after losing her footing, while 2022 silver medallist Jaelin Kauff stumbled to 27th. Debutant Emma Bosco finished 17th.
Other Australian Contenders
Cooper Woods placed 15th in the men's event, marked down for his air despite an otherwise impressive run, while Jackson Harvey was 23rd and George Murphy 26th. Woods, who finished sixth four years ago, remains optimistic about the sudden-death second round. "It puts a bit more pressure on for the next qualifications but I enjoy more pressure, pressure makes diamonds, so excited for the next," said the 25-year-old.
Harvey's Olympic debut was emotional, coming after 14 months off the snow due to a knee injury. A dual citizen, he relocated four years ago to ski for Australia, his mother's home country. "It feels really good to be able to call myself an Olympian finally," the 23-year-old said. "It means a lot, it's been a journey and something I've dreamed of for a long time. The tough times and tribulations, that just makes all the more sweeter. It's the proudest moment of my life so far."
As the competition progresses, all eyes will be on Anthony and Graham as they aim for podium finishes in the finals, showcasing Australia's strength in winter sports.
