Jakara Anthony Pursues Unprecedented Olympic Moguls Double
Australian freestyle skier Jakara Anthony is poised to make Winter Olympics history in Livigno, Italy, as she begins her campaign to defend the gold medal she won at Beijing 2022. The women's moguls qualification commences at 0.15am AEDT on Wednesday 11 February, with Anthony carrying the hopes of a nation on her shoulders.
The Weight of Expectation on Australia's Greatest Hope
At 27 years old, Anthony represents Australia's strongest gold medal prospect at the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics. Her credentials are unparalleled in Australian winter sports history, boasting 26 World Cup gold medals and seven Crystal Globes - the prestigious award for accumulating the highest points total across a World Cup season. The skier from Barwon Heads, who began moguls at Mount Buller and joined the World Cup circuit at just 15, recently featured on the cover of Vogue Australia, demonstrating how Olympic success can propel athletes into national consciousness.
However, moguls remains a discipline that disregards expectation, and historical precedent suggests repeating Olympic success is exceptionally rare. Only Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau has ever won consecutive Olympic gold medals in moguls, with no woman achieving this feat in the sport's history.
The Technical Challenge of Livigno's Steep Course
Ann Batelle, a four-time Olympian turned professional moguls coach based in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, emphasises the particular challenges Anthony faces. "Livigno's course is 28 degrees which is steeper than many - ours in Steamboat is 25 degrees," Batelle explains. "That makes it even more challenging. In my opinion, it's a good thing because it will separate the best athletes."
For spectators unfamiliar with moguls, the event might appear chaotic as skiers descend Livigno's 235-metre field of icy mounds at high speed, executing aerials off two jumps before sprinting to the finish line. Yet the scoring system reveals a more nuanced competition where speed accounts for just 20% of the total score, with jumps comprising another 20%. The remaining 60% is judged on turns, where Anthony demonstrates particular excellence.
Anthony's Technical Superiority and Recent Form
Batelle, whose Steamboat base has produced more Olympians than any other American town, describes Anthony's technique as exceptional. "She makes a really nice carve. Her upper body doesn't move. Her hands are perfect. She's incredibly clean and makes very few mistakes." The coach compares the ideal moguls run to water flowing down the course, with skiers maintaining composure and control throughout.
Anthony arrives in Italy ranked world number one, having recovered from a broken collarbone that sidelined her for much of last season. Her 2024 campaign proved one of the most dominant ever recorded in women's moguls, with 14 victories from 16 starts and three Crystal Globes in a single season. Her most recent triumph came in January at Waterville Valley in the United States, where she was the only woman to surpass the 80-point barrier with a score of 81.17.
Formidable Competition and Olympic Pressure
The Australian faces significant competition from several world-class rivals. France's Perrine Laffont, the 2018 Olympic champion who finished fourth in Beijing, remains a constant threat at 27 years old. American Jaelin Kauf, who claimed silver in 2022, boasts 16 career World Cup wins and 50 podiums, having dominated the circuit during Anthony's injury absence. Another American contender, 20-year-old Elizabeth Lemley, returns from an ACL injury in remarkable form, finishing second to Anthony at Waterville.
Beyond the competitive field, Anthony must navigate the unique pressure of the Olympic spotlight, where winter sports command global media attention for two weeks every four years. Batelle acknowledges this burden: "Right now, expectations on Jakara are that she will win a second gold. If she doesn't win, it will likely be seen as a failure to the media and to many people - which is brutal."
Managing Expectations and Creating Legacy
Anthony has reflected on how her Olympic experiences have evolved with each Games. "Each Winter Games has been a different experience for me," she stated in January. "My first one was going in with no real expectations, then the second as a gold medal favourite ... These ones I'll be going in as the defending champion. There's still a lot to learn."
Batelle's advice for the defending champion is straightforward: "Put the blinders on. If she starts thinking, 'I have to win again,' it will mess with her. Just ski - and Jakara knows how to ski."
Gold in Beijing transformed Anthony into a household name across Australia. The Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics will determine whether that achievement remains a singular moment or marks the beginning of an unprecedented legacy in women's moguls skiing history.
