Olympic gold medallist and moguls world champion Jakara Anthony has capped off her historic season by winning Snow Australia's Athlete of the Year award (Olympic disciplines) at the organisation's annual gala event in Melbourne.
Anthony was recognised for her groundbreaking 2021-22 campaign, the most successful by an Australian winter athlete in history, in which she won gold at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and two FIS Crystal Globes — the grand slams of winter sports — on her way to becoming the world's top-ranked moguls athlete.
"It's still very cool every time I hear the words 'Olympic champion', and I always think, 'Did that really happen?'" Anthony said.
"But it did, and it's been a really incredible year. I'm still lost for words for how to describe it, but I couldn't have done it without the moguls family.
"The moguls athletes, support staff and coaches are a pretty unique crew, and I wouldn't be where I am without all of them.
"To have won the Olympic gold medal, two Crystal Globes and now the Snow Australia Athlete of the Year Award — it's been an amazing season."
Winter Paralympian Ben Tudhope also took out his third consecutive Athlete of the Year award following a stellar snowboarding season.
The 22-year-old's trophy haul for the year includes a bronze medal in the SB-LL2 event at the Beijing Winter Paralympics, six World Cup medals (including five golds), as well as a second Crystal Globe, to mark him as the overall World Cup para-snowboarding champion.
"What an honour it is to win this award — it's an honour to be recognised alongside some of Australia's best winter athletes," Tudhope said.
"There are so many people who put my interests before their own, and it all goes in to helping me get where I am today.
"It takes an army of people to succeed as a winter sport athlete in Australia, so I'm really grateful for this opportunity and this award is for them too."
Other award winners included snowboarders Scotty James and Tess Coady, who both received the Alex "Chumpy" Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award, and 17-year-old half-pipe prodigy Valentino Guseli, who claimed his second Junior Athlete of the Year Award.
Australia's winter sports athletes claimed 26 World Cup podiums overall, alongside four Crystal Globes and four medals at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Snow Australia award-winners
- Athlete of the Year (Olympic Disciplines): Jakara Anthony
- Athlete of the Year (Paralympic Disciplines): Ben Tudhope
- Junior Athlete of the Year: Valentino Guseli
- Alex "Chumpy" Pullin Outstanding Achievement: Scotty James and Tess Coady
- Coach of the Year (Olympic Disciplines): Peter McNiel and Kate Blamey
- Coach of the Year (Paralympic Disciplines): Par Sundvist
