Feb 12 • 08:21 UTC 🇦🇺 Australia ABC News AU

Live: Woods claims Australia's first gold with shock moguls victory

Cooper Woods secured Australia's first gold medal at the 2026 Winter Olympics by winning the men's moguls event in a stunning upset.

In a thrilling finale at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics, Cooper Woods of Australia achieved an unexpected victory in the men's moguls event, earning the country's first gold medal of the Games. Competing against a field of elite skiers, Woods delivered a standout performance in the super final, where he was the last athlete to take his run. Both he and the reigning champion from Canada, Mikaël Kingsbury, posted identical scores of 83.71, but Woods clinched the gold due to his superior turns score, illustrating the tight competition in winter sports.

Woods's achievement is significant not only as a personal triumph but also as a historic moment for Australia in Winter Olympic history, marking the seventh gold medal for the nation across all Winter Olympics. His compatriots, Matt Graham and Jackson Harvey, also competed fiercely, finishing fifth and eighth, respectively, showcasing the strength of the Australian team in the moguls discipline.

This victory for Woods is expected to inspire young athletes in Australia, reflecting the growing investment and interest in winter sports in a country more traditionally associated with summer Olympics. As the Games progress, the achievements of Australian athletes like Woods could boost national morale and promote further participation in winter sports across the nation.

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