As the Winter Olympics comes to an end we look back at all the emotion from the Australian team from broken knees to shattered dreams, medal highs and personal bests. All captured by the lens of AAP photographer, Dan Himbrechts.
Scotty James
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- Scotty James of Australia celebrates with his girlfriend Ivy Miller after winning the bronze medal in the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final, at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Wednesday, February 14, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Scotty James of Australia hugs his mother Celia after winning the bronze medal in the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final, at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Wednesday, February 14, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Scotty James of Australia celebrates with his family after winning the bronze medal in the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final, at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Wednesday, February 14, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Scotty James of Australia (right) congratulates Shaun White of the USA at the completion of the Men’s Snowboard Halfpipe Final, at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Wednesday, February 14, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Scotty was pitched as the ultimate rival to Shaun White and his perfect 100 before PyeongChang. We knew he had it in him to podium, we just didn’t know in which place. His lion heart and boxing gloves put him firmly in the favoured athlete place of Australians at home watching on their screens. His tearful emotional release with his mum, dad, sister, two brothers and girlfriend after winning bronze had us reaching for the Kleenex.
Brodie Summers
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- Brodie Summers of Australia receives assistance from team coaching and medical staff after sustaining an injury in practice ahead of the Moguls Qualifying round during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, at Phoenix Snow Park in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 9, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Brodie Summers of Australia reacts after sustaining an injury in practice ahead of the Moguls Qualifying round during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, at Phoenix Snow Park in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 9, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Big bad beautiful Brodie Summers came back from ACL surgery five months prior to compete at his second Olympic Games. But it wasn’t meant to be after tweaking his knee in his training run before qualifiers. There was hope he would be well enough to partake in the repechage but his PyeongChang dream ended when his knee would not co-operate.
Britt Cox
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- Britteny Cox of Australia is embraced by her brother after finishing fifth in the Ladies Moguls Finals at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Sunday, February 11, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Britteny Cox of Australia reacts after completing her run in the Ladies Moguls Finals at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Sunday, February 11, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Britteny Cox of Australia waits for her score after completing her run in the Ladies Moguls Finals at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Sunday, February 11, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Britteny Cox of Australia speaks with her coach Steve Desovich (left) after completing her run in the Ladies Moguls Finals at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Sunday, February 11, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Britteny Cox of Australia looks on following her run in the Moguls Qualifying round during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, at Phoenix Snow Park in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 9, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Australia’s mogul sweetheart, the country gal from Mt Beauty, Britt Cox went into the games with big pressure off the back of a record breaking season as Australia’s most successful World Cup athlete ever. She held the yellow bib throughout the competition season of 2016/2017, won the Crystal Globe and then went on to win the World Championships. Those who know Britt watched in anguish as the nicest girl in the sport got so close, qualifying 2nd in the first final and moving into the final 6 only to overshoot it in the final and finish 5th. She handled her obvious disappointment with grace and dignity.
Belle Brockhoff
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australiais (right) ishelped by fellow competitors after crossing the finish line in the small final of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australia (left) reacts after crossing the finish line in the small final of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australia speaks with her family following her run in the small final of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australia hugs her father Bruce and sister following her run in the small final of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australia reacts after crossing the finish line in the small final of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australia crosses the finish line in the quarter final round of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australia hugs her sister following her run in the small final of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Belle Brockhoff of Australia (left) clears the final jump in the quarter final round of the Women’s Snowboard Cross at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 16, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
It was an emotional rollercoaster of a winter for Belle Brockhoff who returned after an ACL injury mid way through the gold World Cup winning success of her 2016/2017 season only to tear the ACL again. With medical clearance she made the decision to compete without an ACL in PyeongChang in her beloved boarder cross finishing 10th on the day. A phenomenal effort from one of our toughest competitors.
Matt Graham
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- Matt Graham of Australia celebrates after winning the silver medal in the Men’s Moguls Final at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Monday, February 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Matt Graham of Australia celebrates after winning the silver medal in the Men’s Moguls Final at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Monday, February 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Matt Graham of Australia celebrates after winning the silver medal in the Men’s Moguls Final at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Monday, February 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Matt Graham of Australia reacts after finishing his run in the Men’s Moguls Final at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Monday, February 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- (L-R) Matt Graham of Australia, Mikael Kingsbury of Canada and Daichi Hara of Japan stand on the podium after winning the silver, gold and bronze medals in the Men’s Moguls, during a medal ceremony at the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Tuesday, February 13, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Matt Graham of Australia reacts before stepping on to the podium after winning the silver medal in the Men’s Moguls Final at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Monday, February 12, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Mogul Matt is the larrikin from the Central Coast that edged his silver winning way into the hearts of Australia. Up against the mogul machine known as Mikael Kingsbury (the most successful male mogul skier of all time) he came out grinning with a second place podium and his father’s giant home made Aussie flag.
Sami Kennedy Sim
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- Sami Kennedy-Sim of Australia reacts after finishing third in the semi final of the Women’s Ski Cross, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Sami Kennedy-Sim of Australia is congratulated by a member of her team following the Women’s Ski Cross Final, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Sami Kennedy-Sim of Australia reacts after finishing third in the semi final of the Women’s Ski Cross, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Sami Kennedy-Sim of Australia reacts after crossing the finish line in the small final of the Women’s Ski Cross, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Sami Kennedy-Sim of Australia holds a cardboard cutout of herself with mother Jenny (left) following the Women’s Ski Cross Final, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Sami Kennedy-Sim of Australia is congratulated by her husband Ben following the Women’s Ski Cross Final, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Sami Kennedy-Sim of Australia (left) skis in the round of 8 final of the Women’s Ski Cross, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Friday, February 23, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Sami fought hard on the skier cross course, made it to the semi finals and finished 8th, improving her Sochi results by 20 places. This giant ‘Sami faces’ were the most coveted crowd memorabilia at the games.
Andy Jung
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- Andy Jung of Australia reacts after crashing in the Men’s 500m Short Track heat 1, at the Gangneung Ice Arena, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Tuesday, February 20, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Andy Jung of Australia (centre) skates in the Men’s 500m Short Track heat 1, at the Gangneung Ice Arena, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Tuesday, February 20, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts) N
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- Andy Jung of Australia reacts after crashing in the Men’s 500m Short Track heat 1, at the Gangneung Ice Arena, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Tuesday, February 20, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Andy Jung of Australia reacts after crashing in the Men’s 500m Short Track heat 1, at the Gangneung Ice Arena, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Tuesday, February 20, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
It’s heartbreaking when an athlete crashes during competition. All those years of training shattered as the body falls. Andy Jung’s emotional pain was etched on his face as he went down during heat 1 of his short track competition.
Lydia Lassila
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- Lydia Lassila of Australia reacts after crashing on her final jump in the Women’s Freestyle Aerials qualifier, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Thursday, February 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Lydia Lassila of Australia jumps during freestyle aerials training at Phoenix Snow Park during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Saturday, February 10, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Lydia Lassila of Australia gestures after crashing in the Women’s Freestyle Aerials qualifier, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Thursday, February 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Lydia Lassila of Australia reacts after crashing on her final jump in the Women’s Freestyle Aerials qualifier, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Thursday, February 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Lydia Lassila of Australia crashes on her final jump in the Women’s Freestyle Aerials qualifier, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Thursday, February 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
This one was hard to watch. Lydia Lassila, Vancouver Gold and Sochi Bronze medalist, back for her fifth (and final) Olympics competing in front of her husband and eldest son, six year old Kai. Off the back of gold and silver in the two World Cups prior to the games, Lassila was a true contender. But the dream ending was not meant to be as she crashed during the qualifications and failed to make it to the finals. Australia broke for her when she kept apologizing to the nation in her post event interview. It just made us love her more.
Jarryd Hughes
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- Jarryd Hughes of Australia celebrates after crossing the finish line and winning the silver medal in Men’s Snowboard Cross, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Thursday, February 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Pierre Vaultier of France (left) and Jarryd Hughes of Australia celebrate after crossing the finish line and winning the gold and silver medals in Men’s Snowboard Cross, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Thursday, February 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Jarryd Hughes of Australia celebrates with a family friend as his father Darren and mother Jennifer watch on, after winning the silver medal in Men’s Snowboard Cross, at Phoenix Snow Park, during the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympic Games, in PyeongChang, South Korea, Thursday, February 15, 2018. (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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- Pic: Dan Himbrechts/OWIA
Jarryd Hughes’ response to winning silver was to turn to the gold place medalist, Pierre Vaultier, and hug him. The controversial Hughes from Sochi, put his neigh sayers in the corner when he crossed the winners line in second place and cemented himself the country’s first silver Olympic medal in boarder cross. He went on to take the place as flag bearer for the Closing Ceremony.
