17-year-old Lottie Lodge has become Australia’s ninth Winter Youth Olympics medallist in history following her silver medal in the Gangwon 2024 dual moguls competition.
Dual Moguls – Silver celebrations for Lottie Lodge
Lottie Lodge has taken out Australia’s second medal of the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, silver in the women’s dual moguls.
Up against the USA's Elizabeth Lemley in the Big Final, Lottie received 13 points from the judges while Lemley garnered 22 which cemented Australia’s highest achievement at Gangwon 2024 to date.
It all started for Lottie in the group heats where the Jindabyne local was the only competitor to advance from her pool of five athletes, finishing equal-top on 11 ranking points with Hikaru Sakai (JPN).
Lottie advanced to the semi-finals based on the tiebreaker rule and capitalised on the semi-final berth by defeating Abby McLarnon (USA) 20-15 to earn a shot at the gold medal, knowing at least a silver medal was guaranteed.
Edward Hill was on the unfortunate end of a three-way tiebreaker in his heat, after also finishing on 11 ranking points with Takuto Nakamura (JPN) and Bradley Koehler (CAN). After a deliberation between the judging panel, with Nakamura advanced to the semis and Edward finishing 9th overall.
Free Ski Big Air – Double delight brings anticipation for finals
Joey Elliss and Daisy Thomas are comfortably through to Sunday’s men’s and women’s free ski big air finals, ranking second overall in men’s and women’s qualifying today.
Joey’s huge 91.75 second-run score was just 0.75 points away from the top qualifier Petr Muller (CZE) on 92.50.
Daisy had ground to make up after her first run (55.00) left her in danger of missing the top-10 cut for the final, and she did just that on her second attempt to lay down a 84.25 second run. Only Italy’s Flora Tabanelli impressed the judges more (89.50).
Lucinda Laird finished her Games campaign 16th also in the women’s big air qualifying with a top score of 6.50.
Figure Skating – NSW pair’s season best has medal in striking distance
Peyton Bellamy-Martins and Kryshtof Pradeaux have made their Youth Olympic debut in the pair’s competition, with their short program routine placing fourth at the Gangneung Ice Arena.
The youngest pair in the competition’s 29.03 score was a season best performance, and the 3.60 Peyton and Kryshtof received for their forward inside death spiral attracted the most points from the judges.
Sitting behind Spanish pair Carolina Shan Campillo and Pau Vilella on 31.52 points, Peyton and Kryshtof will be vying for a medal when the competition resumes on Monday with the free skating component.
Snowboard Big Air – Another final awaits for Ally Hickman
Ally Hickman is through to her second final of the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics, qualifying seventh in the 19-competitor women’s big air field.
With just two runs available to achieve a top 10 ranking, Ally put aside her opening 19.25 score to land a 78.75 on the second run to book a place in Sunday’s final.
Fellow Aussie Halle McRae also improved vastly on her opening run, receiving a 64.00 from the judges on her second run to place 11th overall.
In the men’s snowboard big air qualifying Milo Botterill missed the cut in 18th place on a score of 34.00.
Day 9 Schedule
Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games
Australia's largest ever Winter Youth Olympic Team competed at Gangwon 2024. The 47-strong Australian Team competed across eight disciplines.
