Gold medallists Jakara Anthony, Josie Baff split prestigious award as Australia's greatest ever team celebrated
Newly minted Olympic Games gold medallist Josie Baff has added another prestigious prize after judges were unable to split the achievements of two Australian superstars.
Baff shared the honour of being named Female Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines with two-time Olympic champion Jakara Anthony after both stood atop the podium at Milano Cortina 2026.
Anthony and Baff were joined by a third Milano Cortina gold medallist, Cooper Woods, who won the men's award at Thursday night's Snow Australia Awards, which celebrated Australia's greatest ever Winter Olympic Games campaign.
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In an outstanding Games in Italy, the Australian team rewrote the record books, securing six medals - three gold, two silver and one bronze.
Australian gold medallists Jakara Anthony and Cooper Woods were celebrated at the awards. A Current Affair
This year's Snow Australia Awards handed out eight trophies to the cohort, with recognition spanning World Cup success and Olympic medals.
Fresh off his monumental gold medal run in the men's moguls in Livigno, Woods was crowned Male Athlete of the Year for Olympic Disciplines.
"To be up against the likes of Scotty James, Val (Guseli), Adam Lambert, Matty Graham and win an award of this honour is unbelievable and I'm just so happy and so proud," Woods said.
Multiple Australian winter athletes were present at the 2026 Snow Awards. Snow Australia
The women's category proved too tight to call for the judges.
Moguls superstar Anthony and snowboard cross gun Baff could not be split, providing a heart-warming moment as they shared the top gong.
"It's so exciting - like everyone has said tonight we had such an incredible Games and to get to share this Award with Josie and to take home the (Olympic) gold together is unreal," Anthony said.
"To get to share this Award with someone this time around just shows how far we've come, and it's so exciting, and I couldn't ask for a better athlete and person to share it with," she said.
"I'm really proud to be standing here with Jakara tonight as joint winners of this Award," Baff echoed.
In the Paralympic ranks, snowboard phenom Ben Tudhope proved untouchable once again, taking home the Male Athlete of the Year in Paralympic Disciplines for an incredible eighth consecutive year.
Bronze medallist Ben Tudhope of Team Australia took home the top Paralympic trophy. Getty
Alpine skier Georgia Gunew, alongside her guide Ethan Jackson, claimed the female equivalent for the third time.
Fellow moguls star Matt Graham took home the Alex 'Chumpy' Pullin Outstanding Achievement Award. Graham's Olympic bronze was the cherry on top of a spectacular World Cup campaign that yielded two golds, one silver and a second-place overall finish.
Meanwhile, the future of Australian winter sports looks to be in good hands with teenage sensation Indra Brown named Junior Athlete of the Year.
Brown stunned the world during a breakout 2025-2026 season.
Before even turning 16, she medalled on her World Cup debut and secured a maiden World Cup victory, claimed the Junior World Championship title and finished in fifth at the Winter Olympics.
Indra Brown is the 2026 Junior Athlete of the Year after her breakout Olympics in Italy. Getty
Nicknamed the 'Wayne Bennett of snow", Peter McNeil was recognised as Coach of the Year, while retiring athletes Belle Brockhoff, Phil Bellingham and Harry Laidlaw were all awarded their Snow Australia Medals to honour their extensive service to Australia's snow sport scene.
In a poignant moment to close the night, snowboard cross legend Pullin was posthumously honoured after his death in 2020, with his father Chris accepting the award on behalf of his family.
