In a dramatic turn of events at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, Australian freestyle skier Cooper Woods clinched gold in the Men's Moguls competition, defying expectations after a challenging season. The 24-year-old athlete, who entered the Games with limited podium finishes this year due to a knee injury sustained in late 2025, executed a near-flawless final run featuring a daring cork 1440 mute grab.
Woods' victory marks Australia's first Winter Olympics gold in freestyle skiing since 2010 and has sparked celebrations among the nation's winter sports community. The upset comes as Chinese Taipei's team secured its best-ever Winter Olympics result with two bronze medals in speed skating events earlier this week.
Analysts note the win could boost investment in Australia's winter sports infrastructure, particularly with the 2030 Winter Olympics host selection process underway. Meanwhile, the DPRK's delegation made headlines by participating in its first Winter Games since 2018, though no medal placements were achieved.
