Barwon Heads’ Jakara Anthony is aiming to be the first Australian to defend an Olympic title at the Olympic Winter Games in Milano Cortina this February.
The world number one will get two shots at winning gold, firstly in the moguls event and then the dual moguls, which will make its debut at these games.
Australia on Friday announced its second biggest winter team with 52 athletes making the trek to the games.
Five of the six medallists from the past two Games have been successfully selected including Anthony, who is defending her gold in the moguls.
“I’ll probably be classified as a veteran now,” Anthony said. “Each Winter Games has been a different experience for me.
“My first one was going in with no real expectations and then the second one was going in as a gold medal favourite.
“These ones will be going in as the defending champion. There’s a lot to learn on the way and things keep coming up that surprise me. I’m sure in these last few weeks there’s still a lot more to learn.”
It will be Anthony’s third Olympics having finished fourth in 2018.
Anthony enters these games in strong form having recently made moguls history.
Earlier this month, she became Australia’s most successful skier when she put in a dominant showing to clinch her third World Cup victory of the season.
The 27-year-old surpassed fellow Victorian, aerials skier Jacqui Cooper, on the all-time World Cup list with her 26th moguls title.
With the event delayed by 24 hours due to poor weather, Anthony completed a speedy, clean run in the medal round that included a cork seven and backflip mute grab for a score of 81.17 – the only female skier to score over 80.
Americans Elizabeth Lemley (78.12) and Olivia Giaccio (76.60) filled the minor placings.
Missing last year due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, 19-year-old Lemley has now posted her second straight podium this season.
“I guess I have a good track record here now,” said Anthony, who was a double winner in Waterville last season.
“It hasn’t been the easiest comp this month and the season’s been all over the place, so I’m just super stoked to put down a few really clean runs.
“It’s a nice place to leave the World Cup season on hold until the next one.”
