A second freestyle skiing silver medal in as many days, achieved by Daisy Thomas in the free ski big air, has capped off a magnificent weekend for Team Australia at the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympics.
Free Ski Big Air – Daisy stoked with silver, Joey 5th in final
Daisy Thomas goes down as Australia’s 10th Winter Youth Olympic medallist of all-time, with her free ski big air silver medal taking Team Australia’s Gangwon 2024 tally to two silver and one bronze.
"I’m really, really happy. I stomped my first run and it gave me a lot of confidence for the next two runs,” the Mosman local said.
Daisy had a superb start to the final, setting the tone for the field with her 91.00 the best of run one.
"It was a ‘dub 10 safety’. It’s one I’ve been working on for a while, especially holding on to that grab for longer, which I really did.”

Her main rival heading into the final, 16-year-old Italian Flora Tabanelli who is a European Cup winner, posted 87.50 in her first run.
Losing points for her landing on the second run, Daisy’s 81.75 second run had her in second position heading into the pointy end of the competition with 7.25 points to make up on Tabanelli, the eventual gold medallist, for a shot at gold.
“She’s amazing,” Daisy said. “We’re the same age and good friends, but we both push each other and I think that makes it even more enjoyable for us to compete against one another and keep developing our tricks.”
By the time it came to Daisy’s third run, silver was guaranteed and she required an 89.25 to get a chance at the gold medal. She sat down on the third jump, finishing on a total score of 172.75, with Tabanelli having done enough to claim gold (180.00).
"With the third run, my coach was telling me I had a guaranteed silver medal already, so I thought I would try something, give it go, but without any pressure."
The experience of Gangwon 2024 has more than delivered for Daisy.
"It’s been fantastic. Meeting lots of new people and seeing some old friends. The skiing has been amazing and it’s been absolutely incredible."
With the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on the horizon, has it piqued Daisy’s interest to compete there?
"100%. That’s the goal to get there."
Joey Elliss in the men’s free ski big air final, coming in as the second-highest ranked athlete from qualifying, finished fifth on 134.00 and made an exciting start to the event.
He led the pack on 87.00 after everyone’s opening run of the competition.
“The first trick I landed was a bonus landing that,” Joey said. “My goal coming here was a top-five, so I'm glad to have ticked that off.”

On the second run he made a conservative decision mid-flight, with an eye to his third run, en route to scoring 45.00. Sitting fifth overall going into run three Joey needed 89.00 or better for the lead or 86.00 for a slot in the top three. Having to roll the dice, Joey went for a big score but had to settle for 47.00 to secure fifth place.
“It was unreal to represent Australia, something I dreamed of as a kid,” he said. “The whole experience, the village, the people, it's given me more of a boost to keep going.”
Snowboard Big Air – Ally 9th in big air final
Ally Hickman has proven herself as one to watch in the years ahead after recording her second top-10 finish at Gangwon 2024.
In the women’s big air final she performed a spinning front side 720 with a melon grab to get things going and scored 59.75. Then the 14-year-old from Matraville progressed to the difficult switch backside 540 and was credited with 26.50 from the judges.
Finally she stomped a switch backside 540 with IOC President Thomas Bach watching on, earned 66.00 for it and finished on 125.75 points.
“It's been a really fun time meeting everyone from different countries and competing at a higher level, it's incredible,” Ally said.

“I did a good first run and last run but couldn't quite make it up the board. It's definitely motivated me to progress way more and aim for bigger events and I am hoping to get to the Olympics and compete at a way higher level.”
It comes after Ally placed eighth in the women’s snowboard slopestyle on Thursday.
Figure Skating - PB for Sienna’s short program
Sienna Kaczmarczyk recorded a personal best on her Winter Youth Olympic debut, scoring 39.97 to sit 17th in the women’s single skate short program.
The Brisbane girl, who trains at Boondall Iceworld, had a previous personal best of 38.62 and performed in front of the Gangneung Ice Arena crowd today to the music of Burlesque Express by Christina Aguilera and Babylon Welcome by Justin Hurwitz.

The change foot combination spin 4 was Sienna's highest scoring element, receiving 3.90 from the judges.
She will advance to the women’s single skate free program on Tuesday.
Day 10 Schedule
