Australia's Winter Olympics Hopes Focus on Aerials and Cross-Country Skiing for Milano-Cortina 2026
Australia is preparing a strong push for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina with an expected team size of over 50 athletes, building on their four-medal haul from Beijing 2022 where they had 43 athletes.
Among the hopefuls is 21-year-old Canberra native Reilly Flanagan, who may become Australia’s first Olympic competitor in mixed team aerials should he qualify. This would mark a historic debut for Australia in this discipline. The nation's aerials team has shown promising results, finishing fourth at the 2025 World Championships and earning a World Cup bronze medal in January 2025.
Flanagan’s Olympic qualification depends on his results in the individual aerials events, with the final qualifying competitions scheduled through 12 January at Lake Placid, following Canada-based qualifiers and two last chances in the United States.
Another athlete, 24-year-old Hannah Price, relocated to Östersund, Sweden in September 2025 to pursue qualification in cross-country skiing. Although still a mathematical possibility, Price’s chances of qualifying for the Milano-Cortina Games are considered unlikely. Having skied since the age of 10, Price graduated with a law degree in 2025 and is planning to begin a graduate legal role soon, while focusing on maximizing this Olympic bid.
Australia faces challenges as underdogs in winter sports, due in part to limited home-snow training opportunities. However, the country has invested in facilities such as a specialist water ramp opened in Brisbane in late 2020 to support aerial skiers and improve competitive standards.
The Australian Olympic team for the 2026 Winter Games will be announced in the final week of January 2026. The Games themselves will take place in February in Milano-Cortina. This participation is hoped not only to foster athletic success but also to stimulate broader interest in winter sports across Australia.
