Surf Coast salute for Australia’s winter stars

LOCAL snow and outdoor gear brand XTM has paid tribute to its Olympic stars by hosting an intimate presentation at its Torquay store.

Winter Olympic Games medalists Cooper Woods, Matt Graham and Danielle Scott joined staff last week to add their plaque to the in-store wall of legends.

 

They now sit alongside Australian champions including Jakara Anthony, Alex Chumpy Pullin and Scotty James.

Woods was one of the big stories of the 2026 Games, storming to gold in the men’s moguls skiing event from an unlikely position.

The 25-year-old entered ranked 22nd in the world, but roared home in the super final to beat some of his sporting heroes.

 

He said the achievement still had not sunk in.

“I’ve been in the clouds, and I’ve had a whole new view of the world,” he said.

“It was a crazy ride of emotions on race day. I enjoyed every bit, I wasn’t too nervous – I just took all the experience I could.”

 

Graham, who competed in his fourth Olympics and served as Australia’s flag bearer, said his campaign carried extra meaning after he became a father 18 months ago.

The 32-year-old finished fifth in the men’s individual moguls and claimed a bronze in the dual moguls, helping Australia to its fifth medal of the Games and its third in the discipline.

“For me, it was not long before I was back changing nappies, but I certainly soaked it in,” Graham said.

 

“I was just taking it run by run. The crowd was amazing, [it was] mostly made up of green and gold.”

There were emotional scenes at Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park when four-time Olympian Danielle Scott secured silver in the women’s aerials.

The 35-year-old had previously placed ninth, 12th and 10th across her earlier Olympic appearances.

 

She described her win in Italy was the best day of her life.

Fellow XTM athlete Jakara Anthony also joined in on the celebrations.

Her gold medal in the dual moguls has etched her name into the history books as Australia’s most successful Winter Olympian.