Australia at the Winter Olympics

Australia first competed in the Winter Olympic Games in 1936 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and has participated in every Winter Olympics since, with the exception of the 1948 Games in St. Moritz.

Australia achieved its first medal, a bronze, in 1994 in the men's 5,000 metres short track relay speed skating event. Zali Steggall gained Australia's first individual medal in 1998 when she won bronze in the slalom event. In 2002, Steven Bradbury won gold in the 1,000 metres short track speed skating and Alisa Camplin won gold in the aerials event, making Australia the only southern hemisphere country to have ever accomplished gold at a Winter Olympics.

Australia sent 40 competitors to compete in 10 sports at the 2006 Games in Turin, a record number of athletes and events for the nation. For the first time, there was a stated aim of winning a medal, and this goal was achieved when Dale Begg-Smith won the gold medal in men's freestyle skiing. Camplin attained her second medal, a bronze in the aerials event.

History

Australia first competed at the Winter Olympics in 1936., when its sole representative, Kenneth Kennedy, participated in speed skating.Andrews, p. 228.] Australia did not send a team to the 1948 Winter Olympics, but has competed at every Winter Olympics since,Gordon, pp. 522–526.] sending nine athletes to the 1952 Olympics.Andrews, p. 333.] At the 1956 Winter Olympics, Colin Hickey, a "rink rat" who was overlooked for ice hockey when he was young because of his small frame, [Gordon, p. 415.] came seventh in the 500 and 1000 metres speed skating.Andrews, p. 205.]

Australia sent 31 athletes in 1960, its largest team prior to the 2006 Winter Olympics,"The Compendium", p. 207.] its size boosted by an outclassed ice hockey team that conceded 88 goals in losing all six matchesAndrews, p. 403.] . Hal Nerdal competed in Nordic combined, the only time Australia has ever participated in the event at the Olympics. In contrast to the large 1960 team, the teams in subsequent Olympics were the smallest since 1936, with only three competitors sent in 1968.Gordon, p. 523.] The 1964 Winter Olympics were marred by the deaths of Australian skier Ross Milne and a British luge competitor. Motivated in part by wanting to prove that Australians can compete with the best (some people attributed Ross's death to inexperience),Gordon, p. 418.] his brother Malcolm Milne represented Australia at the next two Winter Olympics, won a World Cup event and came third in a World Championship.Gordon, p. 419.] Andrews, p. 299.]

Speed skater Colin Coates competed from six times 1968 to 1988, coming sixth in 1976 with the 10000 metres event,Andrews, pp.93–94.] Australia's best result prior to Lillehammer in 1994. Although a competitor on paper in 1988, Coates was supposed to only be a coach and was forbidden to compete, but when it was time for his event, he put on a uniform and skated his best time ever. [Gordon, pp. 424–425.] The Winter Paralympics started in 1976,Andrews, p. 469.] and Australia has attended every Winter Paralympics.

Australia's short track relay team went into the 1992 Olympics as world champions, but the team crashed in the semi-finals."Steven Bradbury: Last Man Standing" by Gary Smart and Steven Bradbury ISBN 0-9757287-8-4, 2005.] Andrews, p. 3.] Gordon, p. 426.] Australia won its first Paralympic medals in 1992: a gold, a silver and two bronze. In 1994, Australia's short track relay team won Australia's first Winter Olympic medal, a bronze, having stuck to their finals plan of staying on their feet, remaining undisqualified and beating at least one of the other three finalists.Andrews, pp. 252–253.] Zali Steggall won the first individual medal in 1998 with a bronze in slalom skiing.Andrews, p. 405.]

In 2002, Australia won two gold medals. Steven Bradbury, a member of the bronze-winning 1994 relay team, won gold in short track speed skating when all of his competitors in the 1000 metres final crashed out on the final turn. Jacqui Cooper was previously the favourite to win a medal for Australia in aerials, but injured herself in training. Alisa Camplin, who had never won a world cup event and was so nervous that she did not eat dinner the night before the final,Sports Illustrated: [http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/olympics/2002/skiing/news/2002/02/18/womens_aerials_ap/ Flying high: Camplin's aerials win gives Australia another gold] 18 February 2002.] won the women's aerial skiing.

In 2006, Australia sent 40 athletes to compete in 10 sports, a record number of competitors and events. For the first time, Australia set a goal of winning a medal.Herald Sun: [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18010925%255E2863,00.html Aussies set target of one medal] 2 February 2006.]

Aerial skiing medal hopeful Lydia Ierodiaconou injured herself when she landed badly in the second qualification jump, while Jacqui Cooper, who was first in the qualification round, crashed in both of her finals jumps. Alisa Camplin won bronze, her second Olympic medal. Mogul favouriteHerald Sun: [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18040081%255E11088,00.html Ski stars sky high] 5 February 2006.] Dale Begg-Smith won gold in moguls skiing. Torah Bright was rated as a medal chance in snowboarding half-pipe, and came fifth. Damon Hayler, who was rated as a medal chance in snowboard cross,Herald Sun: [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,18031076%255E39875,00.html Crash course of debut thrills] Dead link|date=September 2007 4 February 2006.] came seventh in his event. Michelle Steele, who less than two years ago was a beach flag sprinter, was seen as a medal possibility in skeleton,The Sunday Mail: [http://www.thesundaymail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17964078%255E2765,00.html Michelle's cool change] Dead link|date=September 2007 29 January 2006.] but inexperience with the intimidating and technical trackThe Age [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Sport/Nerves-of-Steele-as-track-sparks-fear/2006/02/15/1139890768545.html Nerves of Steele as track sparks fear] 15 February 2006.] contributed to her coming 13th. As only eight teams compete in men's short track speed skating relay, Australia had a good chance of getting a medal in the event,Sydney Morning Herald: [http://www.smh.com.au/news/Sport/Aussies-land-on-their-feet-for-Olympics/2006/02/03/1138836416033.html Aussies land on their feet for Olympics] 3 February 2006.] but they did not make it into the A final.

Public support

Interest and support in winter sport has grown over time. Australia's first entry in the Winter Olympics, while consisting of a single person, was officially sanctioned, with the then Australian Olympic Federation evaluating Kenneth Kennedy's entry.Gordon, p. 413.] However, supervision and support were relatively minimal. Colin Hickey said that he never got clothing from the Australian Olympic Federation, except for a black armband and tie for the 1952 Olympics to mark the death of King George VI. He also said that Australian officials had "no control over me ... All they'd do was tell me what times I had to do". [Gordon, p. 416.]

After the 1960 Winter Olympics, in which Australia's only ever ice hockey team was soundly defeated, there was debate about the trade-off between selection standards and participation. At a 1963 meeting, Kenneth Kennedy complained that the ice hockey team was not given trips because they were not world class, but could never become competitive unless they had overseas matches. Edgar Tanner said "I ask the winter sports whether they really believe they are in world class, or world ranking, in the field of sport and whether they can do Australia credit, or just be there." Bill Young, of cycling, disagreed, saying "I thought the first spirit of the Games was to compete".

After the 1968 Winter Olympics, in which the only alpine skier was Malcolm Milne, skiing delegate Dr Peter Blaxland said that Australia should not send a skier on his own again for psychological reasons. The response was unsympathetic, with Sir Wilfrid Kent Hughes expressing concern that no-hopers might be selected.Gordon, p. 411.]

In 1993, a training centre and base called Sonnpark was set up in Axams, near Innsbruck, Austria, a joint venture between the Australian and Austrian Olympic Committees for both summer and winter sports. Colin Hickey said about Sonnpark "Yeah. It's great ... With that sort of back-up, we'd have given [the Europeans] a run for their money."Gordon, p. 427.] Australia has since sold the base.Fox Sports: [http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18279074-23218,00.html Coates sees future on ice] 26 February 2006.] After the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (initially called the Australian Institute of Winter Sports) was created. [cite web |url=http://www.owia.org/index.cfm?p=520 |title=OWI History |accessdate=2008-09-06 |work=Olympic Winter Institute of Australia|publisher=Australian Institute of Sport