Veteran Matt Graham has joined Australia’s Olympic medal procession, winning bronze in the men’s dual moguls event in Livigno.
The 31-year-old became Australia’s third moguls medallist at Milano Cortina, joining Olympic champions Cooper Woods and Jakara Anthony, who won the women’s equivalent a day ago. It is Graham’s second medal after winning silver in the individual event at the Pyeongchang Games in 2018, with duals added to the program in Italy, and it is Australia’s record-extending fifth medal of these Games.
Graham clawed his way on to the podium with a win over Japan’s Takuya Shimakawa in the small final, which decided the bronze medal. The Australian outscored his rival 20 to 15. Canadian all-time great Mikael Kingsbury won the gold medal after taking silver in the individual, beating Japan’s Ikuma Horishima in the big final.
Woods was seeded through to the second round but exited at that point, losing his rhythm near the top of the course and not even attempting the bottom jump.
The 25-year-old said it meant everything for his long-time teammate to get a medal. “He’s captain of our team, he’s leader because he works the hardest and he deserves it more than anyone else,” Woods said. “If you’re not winning, you want your teammate to win … it’s been an incredible few days for our team.”
After a hectic fews days as new Olympic champion, Woods said he had prepared well for his second event before bowing out against American Charlie Mickel. “It was hard, you know, like it’s different, it’s new feelings,” he said.
“I had a really good couple of days of training and yeah, it’s just extra noise and I’m just trying to figure it all out, but I’m really proud of the way I held myself the last few days and got myself ready for competition.”
Australian debutants Jackson Harvey and George Murphy also bowed out in the second round.