LIVE: Australia’s eight-strong team of moguls Olympians take to the slopes for qualifying as they look to book a place in the medal showdowns.
Elsewhere, our history-making curlers are back in the ‘Ice Cube’, and a three-time Olympian luge veteran is set to slide back down the track at 130km/h!
Follow all the action with our live updates here.
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MOGULS MEDAL HOPEFUL’S STUNNER
Australia has a strong history in the moguls, and is a strong chance to add to the tally of three medals – including gold in 2006 – this time around.
Jakara Anthony and Britteny Cox have gone straight through to the women’s moguls final after strong performances in qualifying on Thursday.
Cox, who finished fifth in both 2014 and 2018, is back for a FOURTH attempt at glory.
Her run to kick off her campaign was a 72.26, which saw her sneak inside the top 10 – who automatically qualify – in ninth.
Anthony’s run was a stunner, giving her a 83.75 that shot her straight to the top of the leaderboard and seal automatic qualificaton.
“Nailed it,” said Dirk Nannes said in commentary after her run.
Anthony nabbed fourth at PyeongChang at just 19 years old. She is currently ranked third in the women’s World Cup standings and will be hoping to convert that into Olympic success.
Meanwhile, Taylah O’Neill, who came into the Olympics having done her ACL only four weeks ago, was unable to complete her run.
Sophie Ash missed out on the top 10 with her 69.36, which was good enough for 13th.
Among the Aussies’ contenders is 16-year-old Khazakhstan freestyle starlet Anastassiya Gorodko, and TWO pairs of sisters – Canada’s sister act of Chloe and Justine Dufour-Lapointe and Team GB’s Makayla and Leonie Gerken Schofield.
On the men’s side, Matt Graham emerged to silver four years ago and is back in the hopes of going one better, especially having finished the 2020-21 season in top spot – though he has had to overcome a broken collarbone since December!
The other top medal hope is rising star Brodie Summers, who enjoyed a breakout World Cup mogul season with a fifth-place finish.
Men’s qualifying (10.45pm AEDT): Matt Graham, James Matheson, Brodie Summers, Cooper Woods
READ OUR FULL RUN-DOWN ON THE AUSSIE TEAM AND MEDAL CHANCES
Boycotts, fake snow and an Aussie gold rush: Full guide to the 2022 Winter Olympics
FLAG-BEARERS NAMED
Aerials star Laura Peel and figure skater Brendan Kerry have been announced as Australia’s flag bearers for the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
The ceremony marks the first time that Australia has had two flag-bearers at a Winter Olympics.
Australia also had dual flag-bearers at the Summer Games in Tokyo last year with Patty Mills and Cate Campbell sharing the honor.
CURLERS BACK IN THE ICE CUBE
Meanwhile, Australia’s first-ever curling Olympians are back in action at the iconic ‘Ice Cube’ arena for a do-or-die third match of their Mixed Doubles campaign.
Dean Hewitt and Tahli Gill fell to defeat the final stone in heartbreaking 6-5 losses to the USA and China on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, but are looking to keep their medal dream alive.
They face Czech Republic at 11.05pm AEDT.
Aussie star’s stunning move not enough in second heartbreaking near miss
LUGE LEGEND LAUNCHES DOWNHILL AGAIN
Australia’s Alexander Ferlazzo is back on the sliding track at the Yanqing National Sliding Center for his third and fourth training runs.
There are 35 competitors in total in the men’s single luge competition. The veteran is competing in his third-straight Winter Olympics. He claimed 28th in 2018, which is Australia’s best ever luge result, and looks set to improve on that result this time around.
Ferlazzo dropped a stunning second attempt in practice on Wednesday night, topping out at 128.9km/h and tearing up the track in 58.990s. That was good enough for 11th place in his group, 1,180s off the lead.
The track record is 57.298s, for comparison.
Ferlazzo had his third and fourth practice runs on Thursday, posting a slightly slower time of 58,981. He has two more practice runs on Friday. The competition proper begins on Saturday night.
www.foxsports.com.au
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism