Anthony commences championship defence with gold

BARWON Heads freestyle skier Jakara Anthony has commenced her World Championship defence with a bang, taking gold in Finland at the first event of the 2023-24 season.

Anthony beat out all her competitors in the Finnish resort of Ruka in the opening event of the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup, with the 25-year-old Olympic champion performing in a class of her own.

She demolished the opposition in the Finals, convincingly earning the gold medal by a substantial 4.5 points over United States rival Liz Lemley.

“I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect start to the season,” Anthony said following the win.

“It’s been super fun in there, especially Finals skiing, it always is.

“I’m really proud of how I’ve been able to perform today.”

Anthony was terrific in both of her runs on Saturday night (local time), scoring 83.12 and 84.18. Anthony was also the only skier to top 80 points at the event.

Anthony’s 84.18 score comfortably trounced Lemley’s 79.68, while American bronze medallist Olivia Giaccio scored 76.35.

The win for Anthony continues her supreme form at the top of the world freestyle skiing ranks, following her historic Olympic win in Beijing, winning four World Cup moguls, and claiming her second crystal globe as the season’s champion in 2022-23.

The next stage of the FIS Freestyle Ski World Cup heads to Sweden, where Anthony will look for back-to-back wins from December 7-9 at Idre Fjäll.