Australian snowboarders Meila Stalker and Tess Coady have delivered standout performances to qualify for the women's big air final at the Winter Olympics in Livigno, marking a significant achievement for the nation's winter sports contingent. Stalker, an Olympic debutant, executed a backside double cork 1080—a trick she only mastered upon arrival in Livigno—to secure her place among the top contenders.
Stalker's Impressive Olympic Debut
Meila Stalker, a 22-year-old from Coolum on the Sunshine Coast, demonstrated remarkable composure under pressure. After a fall on her first jump, she rebounded with a score of 82.25 on her second attempt, followed by an 82.75 on her final jump, propelling her to sixth place in the qualification rankings. Stalker revealed that she learned the backside double cork 1080 just days before the competition, making her successful execution in a high-stakes environment particularly noteworthy.
"It was the first time doing back dub 10 in a competition, so I learned that on the day I came here, so to be able to put it in in comp mode is pretty cool," Stalker said. "I had so much anxiety throughout the whole day so I think I'm pretty glad to just kind of breathe through it and just get them down."
Coady's Nerve-Wracking Qualification
Tess Coady, the Beijing bronze medallist in slopestyle, faced a tense wait before clinching the final spot in the big air final. As the first athlete off the jump in the third round, she endured a gradual slide down the leaderboard before ultimately securing her position. Coady expressed the emotional toll of the qualification process, highlighting the unpredictability of such events.
"I felt like I was sitting in a pretty good position at the start of the last run, but then just kept getting bumped lower and lower, which is just the worst when you're just waiting and there's like nothing you can do about it," Coady remarked.
Global Stars Advance to Final
The qualification round also saw top international athletes secure their places in the medal round. Global snowboarding stars, including Austrian Anna Gasser, New Zealand's Zoi Sadowski-Synnott, and Japan's Kokomo Murase—who comprised the podium four years ago—all advanced to the final scheduled for Sunday (Monday AEDT). Sadowski-Synnott set a high benchmark with a score of 172.25 points from her best two jumps, underscoring the competitive intensity of the event.
Other Australian Performances
Ally Hickman, Australia's third entry in the women's big air, impressed with an 85.25 on her first jump, briefly holding third place. However, the 16-year-old acknowledged she lacked another elite-level jump in her repertoire, yet expressed gratitude for the Olympic experience. Hickman also had a narrow escape during her performance, nearly being struck by a drone, though she remained unaware of the incident until viewing a replay.
In other Australian results, four-time Olympian Alex Ferlazzo finished 18th in the men's luge, while Hugo Hinckfuss and Seve de Campo placed 57th and 58th respectively in the men's skiathlon. These outcomes highlight the diverse challenges faced by Australian athletes across different winter sports disciplines at the Games.
Looking Ahead to the Final
With Stalker and Coady now set to compete in the women's snowboard big air final, attention turns to their potential to challenge the established global elite. Stalker's rapid adaptation and Coady's proven pedigree on the Olympic stage position them as formidable contenders, adding excitement to an already highly anticipated event at the Winter Olympics in Livigno.
