The 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina witnessed a dramatic turn of events as Jakara Anthony's quest for back-to-back moguls gold medals took a sour turn. The Australian skiing sensation, who had been on fire throughout the competition, stumbled on a mogul during her final run, shattering her chances of repeating her Beijing 2022 triumph. This unexpected setback left Anthony devastated, as she had been the clear favorite to dominate the event once again.
Anthony's fall occurred just moments after she had landed a trick on the top air, aiming for the top score of 82.30. Her performance in the first final had been exceptional, earning her a 3.83-point lead over her rivals, and solidifying her status as the front-runner. However, the super final presented a different challenge, and Anthony's mistake cost her dearly.
In the aftermath of her fall, Anthony expressed her disappointment, praising her own skiing and the high level of competition. She attributed her error to a momentary lapse in form, possibly due to a nervous instinct to stretch her foot towards a mogul for control. Despite her clean reputation in moguls skiing, Anthony's fall wasn't an isolated incident, as she had experienced a similar misstep during her comeback season.
The Australian team, including Anthony's parents and friends, was left speechless by the unexpected turn of events. Anthony's father, Darren, was particularly stunned, believing the gold medal was already in the bag after witnessing his daughter's mastery of the Livigno course. However, the reality of the situation hit hard, and Anthony's mother, Sue, reminded everyone that mistakes in an Olympic super final can be costly.
The USA's Elizabeth Lemley capitalized on Anthony's fall, claiming the gold medal with an impressive score of 82.30. Jaelin Kauf secured the silver, while French skier Perrin Laffont rounded out the podium. Despite the setback, Anthony's performance didn't go unnoticed, as Australia's Charlotte Wilson, who had also fallen in her first qualification run, impressed with her two exceptional runs, finishing in sixth place.
Despite the disappointment, Anthony remained focused on her next opportunity, the dual moguls event, which had been added to the Milano Cortina program. She expressed her determination to learn from her mistake and seek redemption, starting her preparations for the upcoming event with a renewed sense of purpose.
