The team in yellow and green had high hopes for a record-breaking haul at Milano Cortina but has so far failed to live up to expectations
Jakara Anthony looked invincible until she wasn’t, as the cruel format of the freestyle moguls final left the outstanding skier in the field off the podium in Milano Cortina.
The razor-sharp margin between success and failure on the rock-hard ice and snow of the Winter Olympics triggered the demise of the defending gold medallist on Thursday morning, a symbol of Australia’s struggle in the Italian Alps as the team is still searching for a medal after almost a week of competition.
The 27-year-old was top in qualifying, and recorded the event’s highest score in the final’s first round. But that didn’t count for anything when Anthony couldn’t stay on course in the all-or-nothing ultimate run.
The sentiments of Australia’s downcast flag-bearer afterwards, that she was “bummed”, might easily apply to much of the team over the Winter Games’ opening days.
