Get ready for a thrilling night of Olympic action as Australia’s flag-bearers, Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham, kick off their 2026 Winter Olympics journey in the moguls qualifying rounds—but here’s where it gets exciting: they’re not alone. From speed skating to cross-country skiing, Aussie athletes are dominating the Milano Cortina stage tonight, setting the scene for an electrifying clash between the USA and Canada in women’s ice hockey.
And this is the part most people miss: while the spotlight shines on the flag-bearers, a handful of lesser-known Australian athletes are quietly making their mark in events like short track speed skating and skeleton. Could this be the year Australia surprises the world?
Below, dive into our live blog for real-time updates, starting with a bold prediction: tonight’s events might just rewrite Olympic history. But first, let’s break down the action:
Key Events Unfolding Now:
24 minutes ago (9:17am AEDT): Final placings in the men’s cross-country sprint classic qualifying are in. Hugo Hinckfuss (42nd) and Lars Young Vik (51st) fell short of the quarterfinals, but their times—3:23.41 and 3:26.13, respectively—show promise. Norway’s Johannes Høsflot Klæbo dominated with a blistering 3:07.37.
55 minutes ago (8:47am AEDT): In the women’s cross-country sprint classic, Ellen Søhol Lie (50th) and Maddie Hooker (67th) missed qualification, but Sweden swept the top three spots, led by Linn Svahn’s 3:36.21.
1 hour ago (8:30am AEDT): The men’s sprint classic qualification began, with 95 athletes vying for quarterfinal spots. Aussies Lars Young Vik and Hugo Hinckfuss are in the mix—will they advance?
Pinned Update (8:15am AEDT): Aussies in action tonight and into Wednesday morning (AEDT):
COMING UP:
- Short Track Speed Skating: Brendan Corey hits the ice in the men’s 1,000m heats at 9:10pm.
- Moguls: Jakara Anthony, Charlotte Wilson, and Emma Bosco compete in women’s qualifying at 12:15am, while Matt Graham, George Murphy, Jackson Harvey, and Cooper Woods tackle the men’s slopes at 9:15pm.
- Skeleton: Nick Timmings begins training runs at 11:30pm.
COMPLETED:
- Cross-Country Skiing: Ellen Søhol Lie and Maddie Hooker finished 50th and 67th, respectively, in the women’s sprint classic qualification. Hugo Hinckfuss and Lars Young Vik placed 42nd and 51st in the men’s event.
Controversial Question: With Australia’s strong showing in moguls and other events, is it time to reconsider the nation’s reputation as a Winter Olympics underdog? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this debate is just heating up!
Welcome to Day Four of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics! G’day and thanks for joining us as we bring you every twist, turn, and triumph. From flag-bearers to dark horses, tonight’s lineup is packed with Aussie talent. Stick around—you won’t want to miss this!
