Australia’s Team of 33 selected athletes aged 14-17, competed in seven disciplines during the two-week period in the Olympic capital; including biathlon, 3x3 ice hockey, short track speed skating, alpine skiing, cross country skiing, freestyle skiing and snowboard.

Snowboarder Josie Baff created history when she won Australia’s first-ever Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) gold medal in the women’s snowboard cross on Day 11 of the Games.

After six runs in three hours to qualify for the 4-skier Big Final, the 16-year-old from Jindabyne claimed gold in dramatic fashion, edging out silver medallist Margaux Herpin of France by just 0.05 seconds.

Baff’s historic win was Australia’s first Winter Youth Olympic gold medal and Australia’s 7th individual Winter YOG medal (3 silver, 3 bronze from Innsbruck 2012 and Lillehammer 2016). 

“I can’t believe it, it’s very overwhelming, very surreal,” Baff said after her win.

“In the Big Final I had everyone come up behind me in the home straight and at the end I didn’t even know I had won until I looked back at the board, and then I burst into tears.” 

Baff was later announced as the Australian Closing Ceremony Flag Bearer for the third edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games.

Australia also won a silver and two bronze medals in the Mixed NOC 3x3 Ice Hockey.

The 3x3 Ice Hockey competition was a new event on the Winter Youth Olympic programme.

The Teams consisted of 11 field players, plus two goalkeepers, all from different nations.

14-year-old Courtney Mahoney won silver with her team, Women’s Black, while Nikki Sharp (Women’s Blue) and Sai Lake (Men’s Brown) are both heading home with a bronze medal.

Mahoney hopes the three Aussie medals in Lausanne inspire the next generation of Aussie ice hockey athletes.

“I think it’s very cool to see that we can play up to the standards of everyone else around the world, and if three of us can get Youth Olympic medals, then many more of us can get it too.” 

There have been personal bests in biathlon, cross country skiing and short track speed skating. 

Slopestyle athletes had the opportunity to compete alongside World Champions and World Cup athletes.

Plus, alpine skiers and the ski and snowboard cross athletes joined forces for unique mixed relays, all while making the most of the world-class venues in the breathtaking Swiss Alps with their families cheering from the sidelines.

“I am really proud of how our Team have performed here in Lausanne, representing Australia with passion and pride both on and off the snow,” Australian Chef de Mission and Vancouver 2010 Olympian, Ramone Cooper said.

“The competition has been a very high standard, and it was fantastic to see all athletes rise to the occasion to put down performances they can be proud of.

“Josie’s snowboard cross gold medal was a real highlight for the Team and huge validation in terms of the work that’s going on in the winter pathway programs made by Snow Australia and the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.

“Off the field, our athletes have embraced the Games experience, through life in the village and cultural experiences around Lausanne. The 33 athletes are heading home with an unforgettable international experience and connections all over the world.”

The Games brought together almost 2000 young athletes from 73 nations to compete across 16 disciplines. Besides the world-class competition, athletes have immersed themselves in Athlete 365 educational services, met numerous Olympic Champions, embraced the media opportunities, and made life-long friends around the world.

With language, cultural and political differences aside, the Games have untied the youth through the power of sport.

Ice Hockey player Ebony Brunt, who represented Australia in the Mixed NOC 3x3 tournament, summed up the power of the Youth Olympic Games when she said: “It’s like hockey is our language.”

“We can’t all speak the same language, but hockey brings us together. I know when we first met each other in the changerooms it was so awkward, but now after our first few games, we’re all so close because we play the sport we love together.”

Catch up on all the daily wraps, features and results HERE.