Australia has officially revealed its squad for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, fielding what is being hailed as its strongest ever team. The announcement, made by chef de mission Alisa Camplin, confirms a contingent of 53 athletes set to compete in Italy next month.
Historic Gender Balance and Team Composition
This selection marks a significant milestone in Australian Olympic history, with women comprising 62.3% of the team. This figure represents the highest proportion of female athletes ever on an Australian Summer or Winter Games team, surpassing the 55.9% at Paris 2024 and the 51.2% from the Beijing Games four years ago.
The team consists of 33 women and 20 men, making it the second-largest Australian Winter Olympic selection on record. It includes 10 more athletes than the squad that secured a record four-medal haul in Beijing.
Youth and Experience Blend
Among the 27 athletes making their Olympic debut, 15-year-old freeskier Indra Brown stands out as the youngest team member. The Melbourne native has enjoyed a remarkable breakout World Cup season, winning three medals including gold in her first three events at elite level.
"It's pretty special to be the youngest athlete for Australia at Milano Cortina," Brown said. "I started dreaming about being an Olympian in 2022 after seeing Jakara Anthony win gold in moguls. It was super inspirational and just gave me a lot of passion and desire to do it as well."
At the other end of the experience spectrum, aerial skier Laura Peel, 36, will compete at her third Games, while snowboard halfpipe specialist Scotty James prepares for his fifth Olympic appearance fresh from a World Cup triumph in Switzerland.
Medal Prospects and Veteran Presence
Reigning Olympic moguls gold medallist Jakara Anthony returns as team spearhead, with the 27-year-old Victorian now having the opportunity to compete in both traditional moguls and the newly added dual moguls discipline.
"Each Winter Games has been a different experience for me," Anthony reflected. "My first one was going in with no real expectations, and the second one was going in as a gold medal favourite, and these ones will be going in as the defending champion."
The team arrives in Italy with impressive recent form, having secured 26 medals across seven different disciplines during the current World Cup season. This includes 13 gold medals, with bobsleigh world number two Bree Walker contributing five medals to that tally.
Expanded Disciplines and Selection Appeals
Australian athletes will compete across 15 disciplines in Milano Cortina, including new Olympic additions ski mountaineering and dual moguls. However, three alpine skiing spots remain subject to appeal from athletes who missed initial selection.
With 10 genuine medal chances identified, the 2026 team appears well positioned to surpass Beijing's medal tally of one gold, two silver and one bronze. The only Beijing medallist not returning is retired skeleton athlete Jackie Narracott.
Leadership Perspective
Team chef de mission Alisa Camplin expressed confidence in the squad's competitive potential across multiple disciplines. "Whether you're talking about aerials, moguls, halfpipe, snowboard cross or bobsleigh, we now have many regular World Cup podium performers, so this is a well-rounded team of fierce competitors on snow and ice," she said.
"There is such a unique blend of youth and experience in Australia's 2026 Winter Olympic team. It's iconic to have Scotty James at his fifth Games; balanced by an exciting pipeline of young talent, including five teenagers."
The team maintains continuity with veteran presence, including moguls skier Matt Graham and snowboard cross athlete Jarryd Hughes, both 2018 medallists who will compete at their fourth Games.
