Australia Names Flag Bearers for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

Australia has named its flag bearers for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham were selected to lead the Australian delegation during the opening ceremony, while Cooper Woods and Danielle Scott were chosen for the closing ceremony. The selections spanned different stages of the Games, reflecting both pre-event expectations and post-event performances.

Opening Ceremony Flag Bearers

Jakara Anthony and Matt Graham were announced as Australia's flag bearers for the opening ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Livigno, Italy.

Jakara Anthony

At 27 years old, Anthony entered the Games as a reigning Olympic champion in moguls and the current number-one ranked moguls skier. She held an Australian record of 26 World Cup gold medals prior to the Games, including three titles in the current season.

Anthony expressed the significance of her selection for the role.

Matt Graham

Graham, 31, was set to compete in his fourth Olympics, having previously earned a silver medal at the PyeongChang Games. He held second place in the overall World Cup standings with two podium finishes and secured his first World Cup victory since the 2022/23 season in Ruka. This victory occurred on the same day Anthony also won gold, marking the third time Australia had claimed both men's and women's moguls golds on the same day.

Graham stated it was a privilege to lead what he described as a strong team.

Both athletes acknowledged the honor of sharing the flag-bearing responsibility. Anthony noted her long-standing admiration for Graham and their shared career milestones.

Alisa Camplin-Warner, the Chef de Mission and a two-time Olympic medallist, commended the athletes.

Camplin-Warner described Anthony as embodying "poise and excellence" and a determined role model. She praised Graham as a "long-term leader," recognizing his "sheer grit and sportsmanly grace" and his participation in multiple Games, including a comeback from injury.

The 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony was primarily held at Milan's San Siro stadium, with additional celebrations and flag-bearing events taking place in Livigno, Predazzo, and Cortina.

Closing Ceremony Flag Bearers

Cooper Woods and Danielle Scott were named as flag bearers for Australia at the closing ceremony of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Verona. This selection followed what was described as Australia's most successful performance at the Winter Games.

Cooper Woods

Woods, a 25-year-old moguls skier, secured an Olympic gold medal during the Milano Cortina 2026 Games.

He expressed his honor, stating that carrying the flag for his country was "one of the best things you can do in sport."

Danielle Scott

Scott, a 35-year-old four-time Olympian, earned an aerials silver medal at the Games. She participated in the mixed team aerials event, achieving a personal best score of 120.20 with a back-triple-full. The Australian mixed team, comprising Scott, Abbey Willcox, and Reilly Flanagan, finished fourth in the final, with Scott scoring 95.30 and Willcox 66.86. Flanagan's performance was noted as being influenced by his repertoire not including a triple jump.

Scott described the Games as her best personal experience, with the flagbearer opportunity serving as a significant culmination.

Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin commended both Woods and Scott during the announcement, reflecting on Games that reportedly exceeded expectations.

Camplin stated that the 2026 team had "rewritten the history books" and "lifted the baseline and set a new standard." She also highlighted that Woods and Scott exemplified individual approaches, supported by the system.

During discussions for the closing ceremony flag bearer roles, other athletes considered included dual moguls gold medallist Jakara Anthony and dual moguls bronze medallist Matt Graham, who had served as opening ceremony flag bearers. Previous flag bearer Scotty James and snowboard cross gold medallist Josie Baff were also considered.

The closing ceremony took place at the historic Verona Arena.