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With weather dramas, officiating issues and a death on the sliding track the 2010 Winter Olympics may not go down as the best ever, but Australia will remember the Games as their best ever.
With two gold medals and a silver they have consolidated the country’s reputation as a small but growing force in winter sport. Here’s how Australia fared on a sport by sport basis:
ALPINE SKIING
Mid-field finishes in super G and downhill as expected by Australia’s two alpine skiers Craig Branch and Jono Brauer. A very difficult sport to succeed in without serious funding and with the retirement of Brauer and Branch considering his future after three Winter Olympics, the cupboard could be even barer come 2014. Still seems a shame that Zali Steggall’s 1998 bronze in slalom was not cashed-in on and now it’s hard to see much focus going into the sport given Australia’s limited ski fields for racing.
BIATHLON
Sole Australian competitor Alex Almoukov struggled in both his events, finishing 78th and 87th, suggesting any real support for the sport is unlikely.
CROSS COUNTRY
Another sport that is ultra-competitive in Europe and difficult to break into on a serious level in Australia. Paul Murray, Ben Sim and Esther Bottomley finishing down the list in their events.
FIGURE SKATING
With Cheltzie Lee’s inspiring performance and a new top shelf skating facility in Melbourne things are looking up for one of the most popular Winter Olympic sports.
FREESTYLE SKIING
The standout for Australia in Vancouver with two medals (Lydia Lassila – gold in aerials and Dale Begg-Smith’s silver in moguls). Lassila was superb and a deserved winner at Cypress Mountain while Jacqui Cooper and Liz Gardner also made the final. If David Morris continues his level of improvement in the men’s he’ll be targeting a medal in Sochi. That’s something the women might struggle to do if Lassila and Cooper aren’t around. The enigmatic Begg-Smith may be back then and while you can question his interest in Australia you can’t argue with the example he sets and hands-on help he gives to more junior competitors such as Ramone Cooper and Britteny Cox. Scott Kneller (7th) was a surprise performer in ski cross, a sport that is entertaining, works well on Australian slopes and also uses the same course as snowboard cross.
SHORT TRACK SKATING
Tatiana Borodulina, Australia’s best medal chance in Vancouver, was a disappointment. The former Russian skater admitted she had put too much pressure on herself and bombed out in the 500 metres, an event she was hoping to contend for a medal in. Will need to do more over the next few years to ensure the Australian Olympic Committee’s faith in her is repaid.
SLIDING SPORTS
Midfield results for skeleton get a pass mark but the bobsleigh was bordering on embarrassing, with crashes, injuries and sleds going sideways dominating proceedings. Things weren’t helped by a difficult track but it might be time to add some extra qualification criteria.
SNOWBOARDING
Strong performances here and the promise of great things to come. Torah Bright’s gold will hopefully open the door for an international standard halfpipe to be built in Perisher. An excellent role model for the sport, there’s every reason to think she’ll be back in 2014. Fifteen year-old Scott James looked assured in his first Games and wasn’t far away from making the final. While the results weren’t as strong in snowboard cross there looks to be great potential with Alex Pullin after he qualified first for head-to-head racing.
SPEED SKATING
Not a sport with a recent reputation in Australia so perhaps worth looking into further. Sophie Muir did well to qualify for the Games.