Hana Bath has delivered an historic result for Australian figure skating, with the 16‑year‑old winning the country’s first‑ever individual ISU Junior World Championships medal in silver. 
​
Article courtesy Ice Skating Australia 
 
Australia has celebrated a landmark moment in its figure skating history, with Hana Bath claiming the silver medal at the ISU Figure Skating Junior World Championships 2026 in Tallinn, Estonia. Her achievement marks Australia’s first-ever individual medal at a Junior World Championship and has been met with widespread acclaim both at home and abroad.
 
Bath delivered a commanding performance across the event, highlighted by a breathtaking free skate that earned the highest segment score of the day. Her program featured a clean triple Axel triple Toe Loop combination, a technically demanding element attempted by only a handful of junior women worldwide. The jump drew audible reactions from the crowd and was praised by commentators for its height, control, and confidence.
 
Competing against a world-class field, Bath finished with a total score of 205.39, placing her between Japan’s Mao Shimada (gold) and Mayuko Oka (bronze). Media outlets internationally described her performance as “history‑making,” “electrifying,” and “a breakthrough moment for Australian figure skating.”
 
Adding to the significance of the week, Bath also celebrated her 16th birthday during the Championships — a milestone made even more memorable by her podium finish.
 
Ice Skating Australia Chair Peter Marcovich said the result reflects the strength of Australia’s emerging talent and the dedication of the broader skating community.
 
“Hana’s performance in Tallinn was extraordinary. To deliver a free skate of that calibre on the world stage — and to secure Australia’s first Junior Worlds singles medal — is a moment our entire community can be proud of. This achievement is a testament to Hana’s hard work, her coaching team, and the support network that has guided her development.”
 
Bath’s success has sparked excitement across the Australian skating community, with clubs, coaches, and athletes celebrating the achievement as a sign of the sport’s growing depth and international competitiveness.
 
Ice Skating Australia congratulates Hana Bath on her historic silver medal and looks forward to supporting her continued development as she progresses through the international ranks.

​​Just when the post-Olympic blues are setting in for Winter Games fans, SBS will offer the cure with its exclusive broadcast of the ISU World Figure Skating Championships 2026, available both live and on catch-up via SBS On Demand from 25-30 March 2026.
 
Fans can relive all the passion and drama of world-class figure skating competition as the stars of the Milano Cortina Games return to compete for world titles at Prague’s O2 arena, writing the next chapter of the compelling narrative that unfolded on the ice in Italy last month.

​Dual world champion and pre-Olympic favourite Ilia Malinin will seek redemption after his Milano meltdown, while Olympic champion Alysa Liu will hope to extend her astonishing comeback with a second consecutive world crown.
 
Surprise Olympic champion Mikhail Shaidorov of Kazakhstan has opted not to compete, but silver and bronze medallists Yuma Kagiyama and Shun Sato of Japan will provide the highest level of competition for the “Quad God” Malinin.
 
“I'm looking forward to getting myself that ‘redemption competition’, as I like to call it,” Malinin told Olympics.com last week. “I’m definitely looking at that, and I can be satisfied with it if everything goes well.”
 
The entire women’s Olympic podium will compete as Liu faces silver medallist and former world champion Kaori Sakamoto in her swansong competition, while the exciting 17-year-old Ami Nakai will make her world championships debut after winning a breakthrough bronze medal in Milano.
 
Olympic pairs champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara of Japan will skip the event, creating an opportunity for Milano Cortina 2026 silver medallists, Anastasiia Metelkina and Luka Berulava of Georgia, and bronze medallists, Minerva Fabienne Hase and Nikita Volodin of Germany, to contend for a first world title.
 
Meanwhile, the ice dancing competition will see a rematch between France’s gold medal duo Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron, and American silver medallists Madison Chock and Evan Bates, who will hope to go one better and successfully defend their world title.  
 
Aussies in action
 
Australia’s Olympic representatives Holly Harris and Jason Chan (ice dancing) and Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos-Moore (pairs) will be back on the ice.
 
Harris and Chan are fresh from Australia's best-ever performance in the ice dance at the Olympics (18thplace) and will look to make a further rise up the ranks in Czechia.
 
Golubeva and Giotopoulos-Moore had a rough start to the 2025-26 season as uncertainty around Golubeva’s nationality and injury issues halted their momentum. However they still finished 18th at the Olympics, and will hope to be nearer their best at the world championships, after finishing in the top ten for the past three years.
 
The Sport page on SBS On Demand will provide links to livestream coverage of every competition, as well as extended highlights and full replays, with highlights on social media.
 
SBS’s global sports offering includes the FIFA World Cup 2026™, the Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, as well as other cycling Grand Tours, Classics and stage races, Dakar Rally, and ISU Grand Prix figure skating events.
 
How to watch the 2026 ISU World Figure Skating Championships LIVE on SBS:
 
Wednesday, March 25
ISU World Championships - Women Short Program
8:55pm - 2:38am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
 
Thursday, March 26
ISU World Championships - Pairs Short Program
4:10am - 8:35am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
ISU World Championships - Men Short Program
8:40pm - 2:37am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
 
Friday, March 27
ISU World Championships - Pair Free Skate and Victory Ceremony
4:20am - 8:27am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
ISU World Championships - Ice Dance Rhythm Dance
8:55pm - 2:37am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
 
Saturday, March 28
ISU World Championships - Women Free Skate and Victory Ceremony
3:55am - 8:22am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
ISU World Championships - Men Free Skate and Victory Ceremony
10:25pm - 2:25am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
 
Sunday, March 29
ISU World Championships - Ice Dance Free Dance and Victory Ceremony
4:25am - 8:21am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
 
Monday, March 30
ISU World Championships - Exhibition Gala
12:25am - 3:10am (AEDT)
LIVE via SBS On Demand
 
IMAGE - Anastasia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos-Moore at the O'Brien Icehouse in Melbourne
Photo Copyright - Chris Hocking

​Under blue skies and sunshine, athletes were greeted with firm, fast tracks for the Women’s 50km Mass Start Classic at the final race of the cross-country skiing program at Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, marking the first time in Olympic history that women have contested the 50km. 

Australia’s Rosie Fordham delivered a historic performance, finishing 29th, the highest ever individual Olympic placing by an Australian cross-country skier, in the sport’s 74-year Olympic history dating back to 1952. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

The seven-lap course proved as demanding as expected, featuring long, punishing climbs and fast descents with a hot pace set from the beginning from the pack leaders. 

Fordham’s race, however, didn’t come without its challenges. 

“It was pretty good. I fell early. I was in a really good spot at about 2.5km. I tried to change tracks and took a pretty big fall and like took a second to get up and lost a lot of spots, and ended up alone.” 

“I was just like looking ahead and trying to catch people and, all things considered pretty happy with it.” 

“I was skiing really well at the end, I was still holding good technique, which has been a struggle for me in classic skiing, even in just like a 20K, so to be able to ski well for full 50. It was really good.” 

With her Olympic campaign now complete, Fordham will quickly shift focus back to her collegiate commitments in the United States. 

“I have to go back to the US and finish off my college career, so I’ve got some races coming up this coming weekend, I fly back to the US, race there and then I’ll be in Lake Placid at World Cup Finals for one last World Cup race this season.” 

At the front of the race, Sweden’s Ebba Andersson claimed the historic gold medal, with Norway’s Heidi Weng taking silver. Switzerland’s Nadja Kälin secured bronze following an exciting sprint finish to round out the podium. 

​Bree Walker and Kiara Reddingius have delivered Australia’s best-ever Olympic result in the 2-Woman Bobsleigh, finishing 10th in Cortina.

After breaking into the top 10 on their second run on day one, the pair backed it up with another strong effort to open their final day of competition. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

They maintained their position in heat three, then starting 11th on their final run, were able to hold onto 10th place overall, surpassing the previous Australian best of 14th. 

With spectators moved from the grandstand adjacent to the finish house as a precautionary measure due to a snow accumulation, Walker and Reddingius were able to run straight into the arms of family after crossing the line. 

"That was absolutely amazing," Walker said. "I’m so glad they got to see that. I’m so glad they got to experience it. 

"It was just a great way to end this Olympics.” 

For Reddingius, whose parents had travelled from the West Australian goldfields, sharing the moment trackside was overwhelming. 

“I did have a little bit of a meltdown!” Reddingius admitted with a laugh. “They’ve come a long way. It was really nice to share that moment with them and with Bree’s family. We’re all pretty much family at this point. It was really special.” 

Walker, competing at her second Games and coming off an eighth-place finish in the monobob, said having her family present meant everything. 

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and it’s such a rare occurrence to have my family trackside,” she said. “They don’t get to come to every race. So to have them here… it means everything.” 

The pride extended within the team itself, with Reddingius full of admiration for her pilot’s progression from the individual competition through all four heats of the two-man event. 

“I can’t express how proud I am of Bree,” Reddingius said. “She reset, she worked it out, and it just got better and better. I’m just so incredibly proud that we were able to do that.” 

History was also made behind them, with Australia fielding two teams in the Olympic 2-Woman Bobsleigh for the first time. 
Sarah Blizzard and Desi Johnson finished 21st after entering day two in 19th in a tightly-packed field.

With just 0.02 seconds separating them from a fourth run, the pair chose not to let the narrow margin define their campaign. 

"I think that’s a huge achievement, to have two women’s teams," said Blizzard. "We were always going to be close to that top 20. 

"I was saying just before that we’re always on the edge of the top 20 in World Cup, and the year before we weren’t even making the top 20. 

"So I think it was always going to be tough. I know it’s a very competitive race. 

"I think I did the best I could. I made a lot of adjustments and I think we did a great job." 

Johnson echoed her pilot’s sentiments, and while disappointed not to get a fourth run, knows they gave it all they could. 

"It's just so close - you've just got to put everything out there and that's what we did tonight," Johnson said. 

"We can call ourselves Olympians now and we go home happy... I'm just so proud of us." 

​On a demanding course featuring long, punishing climbs, the men’s 50km mass start classic proved a tough test from the outset, with an early breakaway from the Norwegian men setting a fierce pace right off the bat for the rest of the field.

Australia’s Seve De Campo built into the race across the seven-lap course, pacing his effort strongly as the kilometres ticked by. Moving up through the field in the later stages, De Campo eventually climbed to 41st place on the final lap, where he would finish the race. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au ​

The result marks the second-best ever Australian performance in the Olympic 50km, behind only Anthony Evans, who placed 34th at the 1992 Winter Olympics. 

De Campo crossed the line 41st out of 65 starters, in a race where several athletes did not finish or were lapped in the tough conditions. 

Speaking after the race, De Campo reflected on his performance and a best Aussie result since Evans in 1992: 

“That's good company. I love Ant Evans. He's a hero of mine.” 

“My dad's favourite number is 41, so happy with that when I was coming in.” 

“Skied really well today. I was really happy with my pacing. Skis were amazing, thank you so much to our wax team.”  

“Was incredible those last couple of laps, just enjoying that. It's super special racing with the Olympic rings” 

With his Olympic campaign now complete, De Campo is looking forward to celebrating the moment with those closest to him: 

“I've got my family and friends. One of them has flown all the way from Australia as well, which is pretty cool, so definitely going to enjoy the moment.” 

 “Feels like a four-year plan getting here and just really happy to have a solid one today.” 

It was Norway who dominated proceedings, sweeping the podium with a considerable margin back to the rest of the field. Johannes Høsflot Klæbo took the win to claim his sixth gold medal of the Games, followed by Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget in second and Emil Iversen in third, the trio finishing over three minutes ahead of fourth place. 

Looking ahead, the women’s 50km classic follows on Sunday at 10:00am CET (8:00pm AEDT), where Rosie Fordham will line up in the mass start format.  

Phoebe Cridland is unfortunately unwell with an upper respiratory tract infection and has been ruled out of Sunday’s race. 

​History was made under lights at the Cortina Sliding Centre on Friday as Australia fielded two teams in the Olympic 2-Woman Bobsleigh for the first time, with both combinations building momentum from heat one to heat two.

For returning Olympians Bree Walker and Kiara Reddingius, night one of competition was about execution and belief. 

The pair exploded from the blocks in the first run, producing one of the fastest start times in the field to move into 11th place. 

They then recorded the seventh-fastest second run to break into the top 10 and set up their final day of competition tomorrow. 

“Super, super happy with today,” Walker said afterwards. “Training was good throughout the week and that really built my confidence coming in here, knowing I could lay down some really good runs. 

“Kiara set me up with a great start, with a really huge push start. 

“So yeah, we’re really happy with how today went. 

“All we wanted to do was come here and push our best, I wanted to drive my best, and have the best setup we could. I think we’ve done that.” 

While Walker and Reddingius have Olympic experience from Beijing 2022, it was a very different emotion for Sarah Blizzard and Desi Johnson, who launched into their Games debut earlier. 

With family gathered in the start house, the moment hit as soon as they crossed the finish line for the first time with the realisation they were officially Olympians. 

Sitting 22nd after the first run, and with the emotion of their Olympic debut settled, the pair applied their learnings in the second heat to produce a strong response.

Going into the provisional lead, Blizzard and Johnson watched on from the leader’s box as back-to-back crews failed to surpass them, eventually finishing the second run in 19th place. 

“I knew I could make improvements from the first run and I did,” Blizzard said. “But there’s more in me.” 

Both crews return on Saturday night for the final two heats. Run three will be contested in current place order, while only the top 20 sleds will advance to the fourth and deciding heat, which will run from slowest to fastest. 

Now inside the top 20 required for that fourth run, Blizzard and Johnson know they must be at their best to maintain or improve their position - and believe they can. 

“Build from here,” Blizzard said. “Reset tomorrow and do it again.” 

The sentiment was echoed by Walker and Reddingius as they look to push further into the top 10. 

“We’ve just got to go back tomorrow and go again,” Walker said. “We’ll take the learnings from today and see if we can keep building. 

“It’s going to be a great battle… we just keep building from here.” 

Australia has celebrated a historic milestone in cross-country skiing, with Lars Young Vik and Hugo Hinckfuss qualifying ninth overall to become the nation’s first-ever Olympic Team Sprint finalists.  

On the demanding course in Val di Fiemme at the 2026 Winter Olympics, the Australian duo delivered composed and powerful performances to finish well inside the top 15 nations required to progress to the final.  

Article courtesy olympics.com.au ​

In the final, the duo finished 14th after three fast-paced laps of the course each. It marks a significant breakthrough for Australian cross-country skiing on the Olympic stage. 

The Australian women’s team of Rosie Fordham and Phoebe Cridland placed 18th in the qualification rankings. The pair showed strong form throughout, however Cridland was unfortunate to fall in the finishing straight.  

Lars Young Vik admitted afterwards that while it may not have felt like the race of his life physically, the result speaks for itself. 

“Result-wise, probably yes. I was so nervous. In the first part I was thinking, ‘Am I fast enough?’ But I knew I had a lot of energy in the tank, and I could really push over those two hills. That was really cool.” 

He reflected that some of his World Cup races last season, where he hovered around 30th, may have felt stronger physically. 

“I’ve been feeling a bit off the past month, and it’s starting to get better now. But result-wise, this is definitely the best.” 

Hugo Hinckfuss was full of praise for his teammate. 

“That was incredible. Lars did everything. Seeing him on that first leg, he really set the standard for us as a country. Mentally, the job was done, and I just had to do what I could. I’m so impressed and so happy with how he skied today.” 

For Hinckfuss, the result was about more than just one race. 

“We’ve been waiting for this day for four years. The Olympics haven’t gone how we hoped, and our motto was, ‘Save the season.’ Today we’re saving the season. We’re trying to make everyone proud at home. I’m just so proud of Lars.” 

Sweden’s Jonna Sundling and Maja Dahlqvist claimed victory in the women’s Team Sprint, ahead of Switzerland’s Nadja Kälin and Nadine Fähndrich in second, and Germany’s Laura Gimmler and Coletta Rydzek in third.  

In the men’s event, Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo and Einar Hedegart took the win, marking Klæbo’s fifth Olympic gold medal of the Games, with the United States pairing of Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher finishing second, and Italy’s Elia Barp and Federico Pellegrino rounding out the podium in third.

Starting from the outside position, short track skater Brendan Corey delivered an explosive start in the Men’s 500m Heats. 

“I really surprised myself,” Corey said. “I didn’t put any pressure on myself before this race; I just wanted to go out there and skate as fast as I could and see what happens.” 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

Cheered on in the stands by Australian Olympic Champion and Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin, Corey said he got off to a “rocket start” giving himself the best position to fight for a crucial top two finish. 

“I was going really well but then at the apex of the turn I bumped with the Dutch and I lost my footing and lost my speed.” Corey said. “Once that gap is created it’s so hard to close because they’re all going so fast and there was not much else I could have done. 

“I gave it my all and the guys in front of me skated a clean race, so that’s good for them but not so good for me.” 

Finishing his heat in fourth with a time of 41.845 wasn’t enough to move the Canadian-born Aussie through to the quarterfinals, but there were plenty of positives to take from his second Olympic campaign. 

“I know I gave everything I had on the day in each of my events so I can’t be upset with that,” Corey said. “Every race has its own lessons to be learned, both positive and negative, and in a couple of weeks I’ll look back on the races and reflect more critically on how I performed.”  

For now, Corey will enjoy a few well-deserved days of soaking up life in the Milan Olympic Village, before he turns his attention to the upcoming World Championships. 

“I have only a few weeks before Worlds so it’s important to me not to dwell on any of this too much,” Corey said. “I love representing Australia and I love competing at the Olympics, but I know the result or the ranking does not reflect who I am as an athlete. 

“To me, the most important thing is focusing on improving myself, becoming stronger technically and physically, and the results will be what they be. 

I went out there and I gave it everything I have. I’m really happy with that.”  

​“What’s There to Be Sad About?” - Walker finds perspective in Cortina 

When Bree Walker completed her fourth and final heat of the Women’s Monobob tonight at the Cortina Sliding Centre and removed her helmet, her trademark grin was there for all to see. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au ​

She hugged teammate Kiara Reddingius and turned to the small but vocal group of family in the stand adjacent to the track, smiling and waving to those who have been with her every step of her journey to become a two-time Olympian. 

For Walker, that moment mattered just as much as the clock, and possibly more so than the eighth place result she achieved. 

“At the finish I did have a big smile,” she said. “All I wanted to see was a ‘1’ on the timing light and I just wanted to see Kiara and I just wanted to see my family. 

“What a beautiful thing. It’s not every day that I have my family trackside for racing. 

“So what’s there to be sad about when you have such wonderful supporters that are coming all the way from Australia here to see me at the Olympics?” 

The perspective Walker showed post-race was the sign of an experienced athlete who understands that sometimes the result on the day does not fully reflect the effort and dedication poured into a campaign. 

“I feel like I was coming off a season where I’ve improved a lot in my driving and improved a lot in my start and I improved a lot as an athlete,” said the Queensland Academy of Sport representative. “And so I was ready to come here and race, but, you know, yeah, the track got the better of me, I guess, and that is the result and I have to live with it. 

“You have to just be able to adapt quickly to the conditions and that’s the nature of the Olympics and that’s why it’s such a special event. 

“The ones who do, you take your hat off to them because you’re like, man, you were able to figure it out and execute when it mattered and that’s really impressive.”

While there was disappointment in the outcome and there will be moments of reflection to come, seeing Reddingius at the finish line reminded Walker her Milano Cortina 2026 story is only halfway complete. 

“When I crossed the line I said, ‘Alright, that’s done, on to two-man.’” 

The 2-woman Bobsleigh begins on Friday, with Walker and Reddingius teaming up for their second straight Games toegther. It is a partnership built on trust and resilience, qualities that will be needed after a testing season. 

“Our two-man season’s been pretty hard this year, but, you know, we’re Aussies, we don’t give up and we keep fighting and we’re just going to go out there and do our very best and see what happens,” Walker said. 

With family in the stands and her teammate now quite literally behind her in the sled, Walker’s Olympic campaign is far from over. 

Bree Walker fought back on the second run of the Women’s Monobob to keep herself in contention for a medal after day one of competition. 

After only setting the 11th fastest time on the opening run, Walker remain composed and was far cleaner her second time down the course. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

Walker’s second run was nearly two-tenths of a second faster than her first and saw her move four spots up the rankings and into seventh position. 

“I made some notoriously unexpected mistakes in the first heat so I was really happy to be able to come down and lay it down in the second heat and move up a few spots,” said Walker. 

“It’s a really tight race and it’s four heats so you’ve just got to keep going.” 

The Aussie’s aggregate time after two runs currently sits 0.77 off the provisional podium, but with many of the top 10 having issues on at least one of their runs on Sunday, the medallists are from settled. 

“I know what I can produce and I’ve just got to keep going,” said Walker. “World Championships and Olympics are four heats, it’s a marathon, so you’ve just got to keep going, keep going, keep going. 

Walker will rest up over the next 24 hours before athletes return on Monday night for their final two runs. 

“Tomorrow’s a new day – I've just got to go back and reset, focus on my cues, my race, what I need to do in order to be able to execute.” 

Bree Walker will contest the Runs 3 & 4 of the Women’s Monobob from 5am AEDT on Tuesday 17 February

Giving “everything they had,” Hektor Giotopolous Moore and Anastasiia Golubeva say they carried the support of Australian fans as they delivered a strong Short Program at the Milan Ice Arena.

The Australian pairs skaters started off well, executing a powerful double twist lift, followed by side-by-side triple toe-loops.

​Article courtesy olympics.com.au

“The elements weren’t the biggest tricks in terms of technical level, but we wanted to have a clean skate and I think we made the right decision,” said Giotopolous Moore. “I’m happy with what we did, I’m very proud of both of us.” 

Skating to the dramatic ‘Exogenesis Symphony’ by Muse, the pair weaved in a beautiful reverse lasso lift, (a challenging element that requires both skaters to face forwards during the movement), a backward death spiral, and a step sequence that ran the length of the rink. 

“It felt pretty good out there, I felt focused,” said Golubeva. “Right before I skated, I heard my mum yell “you’ve got this” and I just had goosebumps. I felt my parents with me during the whole program.

For Giotopolous Moore, it was the first time his older siblings had ever seen him on the international stage.

“It was special to have them here and to have that support. I saw all the Australian flags in the crowd. It was great.” 

The pair had some difficulty on their final move – a change foot combination spin – in which they lost synchronisation and unity, but regardless, they say there were far more positives than negatives to take away.

“Maybe we didn’t have our absolute best skate but we gave it our all and that’s all we can do,” said Giotopolous Moore. “When I think about how we were skating a month and a half ago, we looked like a completely different pair. We’ve come such a long way from where we were and I’m just so proud of us either way.” 

Missing much of the competitive season in the lead-up to the Games, the team received a season’s best of 60.69.

It wasn’t enough to take them through to the Free Skate, but it has cemented their desire for more.

“We’re going to take all the lessons we learned and get back to training and just keep working on getting better and better,” said Giotopolous Moore. “Right now I’m happy. Right now I’m on cloud nine.” 

“I gave it everything”: Brendan Corey says he “felt the love” of Aussie fans, as he stormed into the men’s 1500m semifinals. 

Powering through the men’s 1500m Short Track quarterfinals, Brendan Corey credited months of studying his opponents’ tactics, for what he described as a “textbook” race. 

​​Article courtesy olympics.com.au

“The quarterfinals went exactly as I planned and predicted. I did all the right moves at the right time. I’m really happy with it,” Corey said. “When I looked at my draw, I made a prediction as to what I thought would play out. Based on that I moved to the front at the right time and once I was in third – knowing the top three go through – I protected my third place with a bit of space.” 

Taking the lead early, Corey skated aggressively, while also trying to take only “smart risks.”  

“It’s easy to get a bit overexcited in these races and to go too hard too soon. I’ve learned that in previous competitions, so I was focused on doing enough without blowing it.” 

But things became tougher in the semifinals. Despite an aggressive start, Corey struggled to keep up with the front of the pack, and said he got “jammed” by competitors. 

“It started pretty good. The first five laps or so I felt like I was right in there, and then at about eight or nine to go I went to the front from the outside, and that just destroyed my legs completely.” Corey said. “In the last four laps I literally had nothing left in the tank. I was stuck on the outside and couldn’t find a way back in. Then it all just got away from me. Yeah, that hurt.”  

The Canadian-born Aussie was cheered on by his parents in the stands, and said he also felt the love from Australian and Canadian supporters. 

“That was a special moment to have my parents watching,” he said. “It felt really good after qualifying for the semi-final to see them waving and to see the Aussie flags in the crowd. It was just a really good feeling and it definitely helped me out on the ice.”  

He’s hoping to carry that support through to his final event – the 500m – which is essentially an all-out sprint for four-and-a-half-laps. 

“Yeah there’s not really a lot you can do tactically for that race. It’s just all about speed and power.” Corey said. “I’ll be starting from the boards for that one which is a tough position, but I’ll give it my best and just do what I can.”  

Corey will take on the 500m heats on Monday February 16. 

​Rosie Fordham, Maddie Hooker, Phoebe Cridland and Ellie Søhol Lie made history today in the women’s 4x7.5km Cross-Country relay, becoming the first ever Australian Cross-Country relay team to compete at a Winter Olympic Games. 

​​Article courtesy olympics.com.au

Battling soft snow and wet conditions, the team took on the demanding relay format consisting of two classic technique legs followed by two freestyle legs. The Aussie team finished up 14th position out of 19 starting teams.  

Cridland was overjoyed when reflecting on the team’s experience. 

“It was just super special. I think we all came into today with an extra pep in our step knowing that it was going to be an historic day. And then to be able to finish now, we're just really elated.” 

Fordham also acknowledged the challenging conditions faced throughout the race. 

“We fought so hard to make it all the way to the end. And you just see even though people crashed and even though maybe things didn't go exactly to plan, everybody's fighting as hard as they can because we all want that moment where we cross the line together.” 

An eventful race saw Sweden lose the early lead following several crashes, opening the door for Norway to take control and secure a dominant victory. Sweden crossed the line 50 seconds later in second place, followed by Finland in third. 

With no men’s relay on the Olympic program, the Australian Cross-Country athletes will now have a few days to recover before returning to competition for the team sprint on February 18. 

​Finishing 33rd in the women’s 10km Individual Freestyle event, Rosie Fordham recorded the second-best individual Olympic result in Australian Cross-Country Skiing history. 

Behind Fordham, Phoebe Cridland placed 49th, Ellen Søhol Lie 57th, and Maddie Hooker 77th in a strong team showing. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au
​
“The uphills were long and really hard, especially the last one,” Fordham said. “You look at it afterwards and think, how did I even get up that?” 

With family watching from the stands, the moment carried extra meaning. 

“It’s so nice to have them here,. They don’t get to watch me race very often because it’s so far away, so having the whole crew here is really special. They’d be happy no matter how I went, which makes it even nicer.” 

Hooker also embraced the Olympic crowd, enjoying a late sprint battle to the finish. 

“It was a really cool race, loads of cheering and a great atmosphere,” Hooker said. “I had a really fun sprint finish, which was exciting.” 

Lie reflected on the demanding course. 

“I liked the first loop, but the second and third lap were just hard,” she explained.  

“That’s also my weakest side, so I spent a lot of time in offset today.” 

Looking ahead, her focus is already on what’s next. 

“The relay is going to be unreal here. I’m really excited for it.” 

Phoebe Cridland described the race as close to the toughest of her career.  

“The hardest thing was knowing another hill was coming,” she said. 

“It was a bit hard to hear splits because of the noise, but it was pretty cool. People were enjoying themselves.” 

Frida Karlsson of Sweden secured a dominant win by 46 seconds, ahead of Ebba Andersson, while USA’s Jessie Diggins completed the podium in a tight battle for third.

Australia will return to the start line in the men’s 10km individual freestyle tomorrow, with Hugo Hinckfuss, Lars Vik Young and Seve De Campo set to race. 

The first starter goes off at 11:45 CET (9:45pm AEDT). 

​Ticking off everything they set out to do, Ice Dancers Holly Harris and Jason Chan have skated into the history books, becoming the highest-placed Australian Olympic Ice Dancers in history. 

Set to the music Clair de Lune, the couple completed their Games’ debut with a stunning Free Dance that showcased their fluid style and skating skills, with a performance that commentators described as “flawless.”  

​Article courtesy olympics.com.au

“We kept this program from the last season and I think that was the right move,” Chan said. “It gave us time to work on all the little details and it was amazing to be able to put out a program like that and have something that we’re really proud of.”  

“It felt really good,” Harris agreed. “We came here to do a job and we did that and we’re just so happy.”  

Opening with an impressive dance spin, the program featured a difficult step sequence performed on one foot, multiple lifts across the ice, and required choreography elements. 

“It feels like we put everything out there and showed what we’re capable of,” Harris said. ‘It’s amazing to think that all that work before the scenes and all the years of training together ended up with this moment. It’s a dream come true.”  

Scoring 108.64 for a total combined of 176.39, Harris and Chan finished in 18th place, giving them the best result ever achieved by an Australian team. 

“I hope this will inspire other Australians to give ice dance a go, and to encourage skaters who might be thinking about switching disciplines to give it a try,” Harris said. “I started out as a singles skater and I always dreamed of being at the Olympics. I never imagined that I would be an Olympic ice dancer but I’m so glad I tried it out.”  

“The thing with ice dance is that it’s changing and developing all the time and it’s become such an exciting discipline,” said Chan.  

Cheering them on in the stands, were ice dance legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean. Dean, who coached Holly at times when she was younger, joked that he’d be happy to take the credit for Harris’s career. 

“Jason actually spotted Christopher during the warmup and he was so excited to see him there,” Harris said. “It’s amazing to think you’re performing for people like that. The whole experience has been amazing.” 

Next, the team will begin training for the World Championships in Prague, but for now they’re hoping to soak up the rest of their Olympic experience. 

“I’m so happy with that I probably won’t sleep tonight,” Chan said. “It just feels so good to achieve everything we set out to do.”  

​​After a tough start to his second Olympic campaign, Australian speed skater Brendan Corey is promising to come back stronger when he returns to the ice for the Men’s 1500m and 500m events.

“I’m disappointed. That wasn’t good. I messed up and I only have myself to blame,” Corey said, after failing to qualify through the Men’s Heats in the 1000m. “I needed to be in first or second position from the start and I got caught up the back and couldn’t move.”  

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

The Canadian-born Aussie finished fourth in his heat with a time of 1:26.052, outside his personal best and well below his own goals for the event. 

“It’s hard because I know I can do better, but that’s how it goes,” he said. “I have to try and put it behind me.”  

Returning to Olympic ice after a horror accident that nearly claimed his life when a competitor’s blade sliced his throat, the 29-year-old insists he has no regrets about continuing in the sport, and wants to do Australia – and his parents – proud. 

“I had my parents watching me today and that’s the first time they’ve seen me in Olympic competition. I feel like I let them down,” he said.  

But that couldn’t be further from how Melanie and Trevor Corey viewed their son’s skate. Decked out in green and gold, they described “immense pride” at witnessing Corey take on such an unforgiving sport. 

“He’s been on the ice since he was six and to see him reach this level is amazing,” said mum, Melanie. “With the Covid restrictions, we couldn’t watch him compete at the Beijing Games, so just being here is really special.”  

“He’s our champion,” dad, Trevor, agreed. 

And Corey still has two big events to go, including his pet event – the 1500m. 

“I’m going to do what I can to reset and focus on the next race and just get back to my pre-comp routine,” said Corey.  

Corey will compete in quarterfinals of the Men’s 1500m even on February 14. His Olympic campaign continues with the 500m Heats on February 16. 

​​Ellen Søhol Lie, Maddie Hooker, Hugo Hinckfuss and Lars Vik Young took on the 2026 Milano Cortina classic sprint overnight. ​

In cross-country sprint racing, the fastest 30 athletes from the men’s and women’s qualification rounds advance to the knockout stages, progressing through the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

The Olympic course features two short, sharp climbs followed by a long, decisive uphill. From there, athletes navigated a fast right-hand sweeper before charging back into the stadium for the final sprint to the finish line. 

 In rapidly warming conditions, the 1.6km track initially firm after an overnight freeze gradually slowed throughout the morning. 

The Aussie quartet delivered historic results, with Hugo Hinckfuss placing 42nd, the best-ever Olympic sprint result in Australian history. Lars Vik Young recorded an equal second-best Australian Olympic sprint result, finishing 51st out of 95 athletes. Ellen Søhol Lie finished 50th, an equal second-best-ever result by an Australian woman in a sprint, while Maddie Hooker skied a strong race to 67th place out of 89 athletes. 

After illness earlier in the season, Lars Vik Young said: “The skis are really good. It's the best I've felt physically in a really long time, so that's good.” Looking ahead, he added: “The team skate sprint is my favourite, so the shape's coming.” 

Ellen Søhol Lie said: “I actually enjoyed the race. We had good skis and good grip, that was fantastic, and the crowd was good.” Looking ahead to the 10km skate on the 12th, she added: “There's a lot of uphill, so I'm looking forward to the downhills. I'm looking forward to a good race where I hopefully can use my power wisely.” 

In the women’s event, Sweden dominated the final, with Linn Svahn taking gold, followed by Jonna Sundling, while Maja Dahlqvist rounded out the podium. 

Norwegian great, Johannes Høsflot Klæbo claimed his second gold medal of the Games, followed by American, Ben Ogden, with Norwegian, Oskar Opstad Vike completing the podium. 

It’s been twelve years since Australia last featured in Olympic Ice Dancing, but Holly Harris and Jason Chan looked right at home as they took to the Milan stage, with an electric program that earned them a score of 67.75, and a spot in the Free Dance event tomorrow. 

“When we hit our finishing pose, we were really happy with how we skated and I think we need to stay with that feeling,” said Chan. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

“Overall I just felt happy and grateful,” said Harris. “My nerves were actually okay and I had this eerie calmness. I felt like I’m where I need to be.”  

Beaming from the moment they skated out onto Olympic ice, the Montreal-based Aussie team, lit up the Milan Ice Skating Arena with a punchy performance that impressed not only the judges, but also the crowd, many of whom were clapping along to the mix of pop tunes from artists like Jennifer Lopez and Anastacia.

“The five-minute warmup felt quite different to normal competitions,” said Harris. “It was very chaotic. The crowd had a lot more energy than we’re used to which was really fun, but it was really high energy and we needed to calm down and settle to focus.” 

The program included intricate step sequences, a synchronised twizzle series – which appeared like side-by-side moving spins that travel across the ice – and a breathtaking lift that changed from rotational to stationary. 

“We’re happy with the performance, and we qualified which is what we set out to do,” said Harris. “I don’t think the scores were what we were looking for but that’s out of control and we couldn’t have skated a lot better.”  

The team will now focus on Wednesday’s free skate program – a beautiful routine set to Clair de Lune, which they’ve carried over from last season. 

‘I’m really looking forward to skating the free,” said Chan. “It feels like a privilege to be out there and get that opportunity, and we’ve really worked hard on developing the program with a lot of new details and moments.”  

It will also give them a chance to showcase their full skating abilities, with a longer program allowing extra elements including a dance spin and several stunning lifts. 

For now, the pair can soak up the success of their Games debut, declaring they’re finally able to call themselves Olympians  

“It’s surreal to say that, to call myself an Olympian,” said Harris. “But now I feel like I can do it. I’m an Olympian. It’s amazing.”  ​

​Alex Ferlazzo brought his fourth Olympic luge campaign to a close with speed, composure and a moment shared with family and friends at the Cortina Sliding Centre tonight. 

The final day of competition featured runs three and four, with only the top 20 advancing to a final descent. Ferlazzo did exactly what was required on his third run, clocking 53.800 seconds, the 17th-fastest time of the heat. That kept him 19th overall and safely inside the cut. 

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

With a place in the final secured, the Australian relied on the same positive mindset which he took into his opening run of the delivering a time of 53.734. It ensured Ferlazzo improved his time on each of his four runs, with his final effort elevating him to 18th in the overall standings overall. 

“Those last two runs... I put it all out there,” Ferlazzo said. “There were no negative thoughts. 

“It was just full speed ahead, and whatever happens, happens. 

“The whole way down the track I was just focused on the next thing I needed to do. 

“I felt quite present the whole time. I put down some runs at the end that I’m proud of.” 

The progress was also reflected in his speed. After reaching 125.8km/h during his runs on Saturday, Ferlazzo pushed beyond 127km/h on the final day, a clear sign of his growing confidence on the rebuilt Cortina track. 

Away from the stopwatch, the finish area carried added meaning. Family and friends were positioned close to the ice, visible from the hot seat as Ferlazzo wrapped himself in the Australian flag and as he momentarily filled top spot on the standings. 

“That’s what it’s all about,” he said. “If it wasn’t for the friends and family and people you meet along the way, this would all be for nothing. So super special.” 

Ferlazzo said he made a conscious effort to stay relaxed earlier in the day, reaching out to family rather than staying locked in race mode. 

“I called them up,” Ferlazzo said. “I asked what they were doing and kept my mind off the sport a bit. I did think about racing a little, but yeah, I’m excited to go see them later on.” 

At the front of the field, Germany’s Max Langenhan claimed gold after setting four consecutive track records across the competition. Austria’s Jonas Müller finished second, while Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller delighted the home crowd with bronze. 

​Australian cross-country skiers Hugo Hinckfuss and Seve de Campo have opened their Milano Cortina 2026 campaign in the men’s 20km Skiathlon, tackling one of the most physically demanding events on the Olympic program.

Hinckfuss finished 56th, with de Campo just three seconds behind in 57th, out of 74 starters.

Article courtesy olympics.com.au

For Hinckfuss, it was the first time he had competed in an Olympic Skiathlon.

“They say it’s always a good time to try something new at the Olympics,” he said. 

“Honestly, a big reason I did it was because my whole extended family was here. It was really emotional to see them and hear them out there. I hadn’t seen some of them in so long.

“I kind of did it for them, and I’m so proud to represent my family and my country.”

The Skiathlon combines two event styles into a single race. The athletes start with 10km in classic technique, which utilises parallel tracks for the skis. They then switch skis and poles in an exchange zone before skiing the next 10km in freestyle, also known as skating.

The race in Val di Fiemme began under clear blue skies, with the track initially hard and fast before softening as temperatures climbed to around 6°C. The warming snow created increasingly challenging conditions, particularly on the downhill corners and transitions between sections of the course.

Cheered on by Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin and their friends and family, the Australians went out hard in the opening classic leg, working to stay connected with the main group. At several points during the race, de Campo and Hinckfuss skied together, pushing the pace and working tactically to close gaps to nearby competitors.

“I was really up for the fight, and I think we fought super hard,” de Campo said of the intense classic leg. 

“There was a steep hill out the back where we struggled a bit for kick, which slowly wore me down. But the transition was insanely good, so that was a big tick. I picked up a couple of places on the skate, which was great. But it was brutal — really brutal," de Campo said of his tenth Skiathlon.

Hinckfuss highlighted the team approach and tactical focus that shaped the Australian performance.

“We had a plan to just give ourselves a chance in the first leg, and I think we really did. But the climbs were steep and tough, so some gaps formed. We fought as much as we could to close them, but the guys were just on such a high level today.

“At the end of the day, I tried to ski smooth and relaxed when I could. In the skate leg especially, when the downhills were breaking up so much, I tried to maximise the opportunities and take some different lines — and that really paid off.”

The race was won by Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo, with France’s Mathis Desloges and Norway’s Martin Løwstrøm Nyenget rounding out the podium.

The Australians now turns their attention to the Classic Sprint on Tuesday 10 February, with four athletes set to compete. 

Maddie Hooker and  Ellen Søhol Lie will start in the women’s event, while Hinckfuss and Lars Vik Young will represent Australia in the men’s Sprint.

The Australian women’s cross-country team delivered a determined performance in the skiathlon in Val di Fiemme, fighting hard across both the classic and freestyle legs of the race. 

Rosie Fordham was the leading Australian, finishing 49th after a strong effort to avoid being lapped by the lead group, who set a fast pace from the start. Fordham was in 56th at the transition into skate and made her way through the field in her preferred technique for a top 50 finish. 

​Article courtesy olympics.com.au

“The classic part was really hard. I was struggling on the flats and downhills, but I knew if I could just hang in, I’d feel good once I switched to skate,” Fordham said. 

“As soon as I put the skate skis on, I felt incredible and was able to start catching people.”

Phoebe Cridland, Ellen Søhol Lie, and Maddie Hooker were unfortunately lapped by the leading group as the tempo increased following the switch from classic to freestyle.

Despite the challenging conditions, the team showed promising form, with positive signs heading into the upcoming races. Performance Manager Finn Marsland noted that the classic waxing did not quite hit the mark on the day but emphasised the team’s motivation to continue improving conditions for the athletes to compete on an even playing field.

At the conclusion of the race Sweden finished one-two in the opening cross-country event at Tesero Cross-Country Skiing Stadium with Frida Karlsson carrying the national flag over the line to win gold ahead of compatriot Ebba Anderson. Norway's Heidi Weng finished in third.

Ahead of the Men’s Skiathlon
Seve De Campo and Hugo Hinkfuss will line-up for tomorrow’s Men’s 10km + 10km Skiathlon. Like today’s women’s event the Men’s Skiathlon will consist of both a 10km ‘classic’ section, where the skiers glide along tracks etched in the snow and a 10km ‘free’ section (also called "skate"). Here the skier makes lateral movements relative to the direction they are travelling, skating to the finish.

De Campo is looking forward to the race as he prepares to compete at his second Olympic Games, “[I’m] starting to get very excited. It’s always special racing at the Olympics and knowing you can probably give that extra one or two per cent, because you’ve got your country behind you. So, I’m really keen to get out there,” he said.

De Campo said he feels confident and ready to perform at his best heading into his first race of these Games.

“Second Olympics, so I’m feeling prepared,” he said.

The skiathlon promises to be an event not to be missed, watch our Men’s Cross-Country Team push the limits of physical endurance.

Ice dance duo Holly Harris and Jason Chan have delivered the strongest Four Continents performance of their careers, finishing fifth at the Championships in Beijing, China.
 
The pair produced near‑personal‑best scores in both segments of the competition, opening with 68.33 points in the rhythm dance—the fifth‑highest score of the round.
 
In the free dance, Harris and Chan continued their impressive form, earning 108.75 points, the sixth‑best score among all competitors.
 
Their combined total of 177.08 points secured a final ranking of fifth place, surpassing their previous best Four Continents finish of seventh last year.
 
Also competing for Australia at the Four Continents in the Pairs event was Anastasiia Golubeva and Hektor Giotopoulos Moore, who finished in 11th place in their first major competition of the season. The pair were ranked eighth after the short program with a score of 59.27, but fell to 11th after the free skate with a score of 82.68, giving them a total score of 141.95 points.
 
Harris and Chan along with Golubeva and Giotopoulos Moore will now head to Italy for their Olympic Games debut.

The Australian Cross Country Ski Team has wrapped up its final pre‑Olympic World Cup event of the season, taking to the trails of Goms, Switzerland.
 
Rosie Fordham and Ellen Soehol delivered a standout performance in the women’s team sprint, finishing 17th, marking the pair’s best result in the team sprint event on the World Cup circuit.
 
Australian Results – Goms World Cup
Women’s Team Sprint
• 17th – Rosie Fordham & Ellen Soehol Lie
Men’s Team Sprint
• 24th – Hugo Hinckfuss & Lars Young Vik
Women’s Individual Sprint
• 62nd – Ellen Soehol Lie
• 66th – Maddie Hooker
• 69th – Tuva Bygrave
Men’s Individual Sprint
• 53rd – Hugo Hinckfuss
• 57th – Lars Young Vik
Women’s 20km Mass Start Classic
• 43rd – Rosie Fordham
• 48th – Maddie Hooker
Men’s 20km Mass Start Classic
• 62nd – Hugo Hinckfuss
• 64th – Seve de Campo