Australian Moguls Star Matt Graham Secures Bronze on Historic 'Dad Podium'
Australian Winter Olympics hero Matt Graham has revealed the deeply personal motivation that propelled him to a bronze medal in the men's dual moguls final in Livigno. The 31-year-old skier joined Canada's Mikael Kingsbury and Japan's Ikuma Horishima to create a unique 'dad podium', with all three medallists being fathers.
Heartwarming Family Inspiration
Speaking after claiming his second Olympic medal, Graham expressed hope that his baby daughter Ada would appreciate his bronze more than the silver he won eight years ago in PyeongChang. 'Everyone's spoken about the dads on tour,' Graham told Nine's Wide World of Sports. 'When I was in the start gate, I knew what was at stake. The other two dads were going for gold and silver, so they'd already locked in a medal, and it was up to me to make sure I could round out the podium.'
The emotional significance of the moment became apparent when Graham spotted his family in the crowd. 'There was my mum and dad, my brother, my wife Jess and daughter, just waving,' he recounted. 'I guess that's when the emotions set in, and to be up there with two fellow fathers — that's pretty unreal.'
Redemption on the Slopes
Graham's bronze medal came after disappointment in the individual moguls event, where he finished fifth. In the dual moguls competition, he faced a challenging path to the podium after being beaten 21-14 by Horishima in the semi-final. However, he demonstrated remarkable resilience to secure bronze with a 20-15 victory over Japanese skier Takuya Shimakawa in the small final.
'This means a lot,' Graham explained. 'The other day was a bit bittersweet, coming fifth when I knew I had enough to get on the podium, so today was a bit about redemption. I was fired up.' The four-time Olympian added: 'In that start gate, I knew what was at stake, I knew it was up to me to fulfil that dream for us, so this medal means so much to me.'
Historic Australian Winter Olympics Performance
Graham's achievement extends Australia's record-breaking performance at the Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics. The Australian team has now secured five medals—three gold, one silver, and one bronze—marking the country's most successful Winter Games in history. Graham becomes Australia's third moguls medallist, joining Olympic champions Cooper Woods and Jakara Anthony, who won the women's dual moguls event the previous day.
The significance of the 'dad podium' was not lost on Graham, who noted this was the third time he, Kingsbury, and Horishima had shared podium honours, following similar achievements at World Cup events and last year's world championships. 'We're the three dads on tour and the elder statesmen, but we're also some of the best guys on the tour, so we knew it was possible,' said the NSW Central Coast native. 'But to do it here at the Games is very special.'
Family Legacy and Future Reflections
While Graham's wife Jess and toddler Ada watched from the bottom of the course, the skier remained uncertain about his daughter's reaction to his latest achievement. 'I put the silver medal from PyeongChang around her neck for something fun, and I'm sure this one will go around her neck this afternoon on a few occasions,' he said. 'But hopefully she takes to this one more than the silver—she really didn't like it when I put it around her neck.'
Graham reflected on the lasting significance of the moment for all three fathers on the podium. 'While our kids probably won't remember this moment, at some point we're going to look back at the photos and videos and realise how special this was.' The trio of fathers celebrated their achievement by posing for photographs with their partners and children after the medals ceremony, creating lasting memories of this unique Olympic moment.
Team Support and Australian Contingent
Teammate Cooper Woods, who was eliminated in the second round of the competition, expressed his admiration for Graham's achievement. 'He's captain of our team, he's the leader because he works the hardest and he deserves it more than anyone else,' Woods said. 'If you're not winning, you want your teammate to win... it has been an incredible few days for our team.'
Australian debutants Jackson Harvey and George Murphy were also eliminated in the second round, but the overall performance of the Australian moguls team has been exceptional. The historic medal haul continues to build Australia's reputation as an emerging force in winter sports, with Graham's fatherhood-inspired bronze adding a particularly heartwarming chapter to the nation's Olympic story.
