Fresh from her Olympic gold medal triumph, Josie Baff has added yet another accolade to her burgeoning list of achievements, as she and two-time Olympic champion Jakara Anthony were jointly awarded the title of Female Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines at the recent Snow Australia Awards.
Baff and Anthony, both celebrated gold medalists from the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympic Games, shared this illustrious title at the awards ceremony held on Thursday night, further cementing their status as exceptional athletes.
They were joined by another star of the Games, Cooper Woods, who claimed the men’s equivalent award, recognising his outstanding achievements in the same competition.
The Australian Winter Olympic team had a remarkable outing in Italy, breaking records by securing a total of six medals: three gold, two silver, and one bronze.
Jakara Anthony and Cooper Woods were celebrated at the awards for their incredible achievements. A Current Affair
During the Snow Australia Awards, a total of eight trophies were awarded, recognising a variety of achievements from World Cup victories to Olympic accolades.
Cooper Woods, following his impressive gold medal performance in the men’s moguls at Livigno, was named Male Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines.
Outstanding performances were acknowledged during the 2026 Snow Awards. Snow Australia
The competition for the female category was extremely tight, leading to the judges being unable to choose between moguls champion Anthony and snowboard star Baff, resulting in a touching moment as they accepted the accolade together.
In the Paralympics category, snowboard sensation Ben Tudhope once again took home the title of Male Athlete of the Year for Paralympic Disciplines, marking an extraordinary eighth consecutive year of recognition.
Ben Tudhope from Team Australia proudly claimed the top honour in the Paralympic category. Getty
In the women’s Paralympic category, alpine skier Georgia Gunew, alongside her guide Ethan Jackson, secured her third award.
Additionally, moguls standout Matt Graham received the Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award, capping off a remarkable World Cup season that saw him earn an Olympic bronze medal, complemented by two golds and a silver.
The future of Australian winter sports seems bright, as teenage prodigy Indra Brown was named Junior Athlete of the Year, following a phenomenal breakthrough season where she achieved multiple accolades.
Before reaching 16, Brown made headlines by medalling on her World Cup debut, capturing her first World Cup victory, clinching the Junior World Championship title, and finishing fifth overall at the Winter Olympics.
Indra Brown is celebrated as the Junior Athlete of the Year following her impressive performances in Italy. Getty
Recognised as the “Wayne Bennett of snow sports,” Peter McNeil was awarded Coach of the Year, while retiring athletes Belle Brockhoff, Phil Bellingham, and Harry Laidlaw were presented with Snow Australia Medals as a tribute to their significant contributions to the snow sport community.
In a heartfelt moment during the ceremony, snowboard cross legend Alex ‘Chumpy’ Pullin was remembered posthumously, with his award accepted by his father, Chris, in tribute to his enduring legacy.
Compiled by SportArena.au.
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