Kyra Wheatley, Australia’s sole ski cross athlete at the 2026 Winter Olympics, concluded her Olympic debut in Livigno on Friday, finishing 23rd in the seeding round and being eliminated in the 1/8 finals, according to live updates from the ABC.
The 22-year-old’s first appearance at a Winter Games came as Danielle Maier of Austria secured gold in the women’s ski cross event. Wheatley, who transitioned to ski cross after a promising career in alpine skiing – achieving third place in both slalom and giant slalom at the national championships in 2019 – expressed a mix of disappointment and optimism following her performance.
“Ski cross is a bit special,” Wheatley said, as reported by the ABC. “It’s a mix of speed and jumping and people next to you — it’s quite chaotic. I grew up doing alpine and moguls but I realised I love the speed, but I also love jumping, so ski cross is kind of perfect for that.”
The nature of ski cross, as highlighted by the ABC, is inherently chaotic, mirroring the unpredictability of snowboard cross where Josie Baff won gold earlier in the Games. Wheatley embraced this element, noting the unique challenges presented by each course and competitor. “It’s great that every single course is completely different, even when there’s different athletes next to you, given that other athletes have different personality types and skiing types,” she explained. “So every time you acquire on a course with new athletes, it’s a completely different line and different course and race that you’re racing.”
Despite the risks inherent in the sport, Wheatley emphasized her enjoyment of the speed and intensity. “The faster This proves the better… and the bigger the jumps. The higher the heart rate, the more fun it is, honestly,” she stated.
The Australian Sports Foundation has been supporting Wheatley’s journey to the Olympics, acknowledging the Traditional Owners and Elders of the lands on which it operates. The ASF’s website details support for Wheatley’s pursuit of her Olympic dream.
Meanwhile, Reilly Flanagan finished 20th in the men’s aerials qualification, setting the stage for the finals. China’s Li Tianma showcased a complex quintuple-twisting, triple somersault move during qualifying, hinting at the high level of competition to arrive. Australia also fielded two teams in the first heat of the two-woman bobsleigh event, with Sarah Blizzard and Desi Johnson, and Bree Walker and Kara Reddingius competing.
