- Woods has claimed Australia’s first gold in Milano Cortina
Australia’s newest Olympic champion Cooper Woods has revealed the secret behind his stunning run from the edge of elimination to claiming the nation’s first gold medal at the Milano Cortina Games.
Woods entered Winter Olympics folklore after coming from the clouds to join Steven Bradbury, Alisa Camplin, Dale Begg-Smith, Torah Bright, Lydia Lassila and Jakara Anthony as an Australian gold medal winner.
And it came after the 25-year-old moguls skier was staring at early oblivion before the greatest Winter Olympics comeback since Bradbury was dubbed ‘the accidental hero’ at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.
Woods qualified outside the top 10 for the final of his event, so after finishing 15th he was allocated the very last run.
Despite the immense pressure, Woods was able to finish with a score that tied Mikael Kingsbury, who is regarded as the greatest of all time in the sport. Woods pipped Kingsbury for the top gong in the end because he was given a better turn score (48.4 to 47.7).
The man from Merimbula needed a circuit breaker after his dismal qualifying performance, and now he has revealed that he turned to his sports psychologist to help engineer the incredible turnaround.
Cooper Woods (pictured) has shocked the world and won the gold medal in the men’s moguls
Woods (pictured) was warmly embraced by fellow moguls skier Matt Graham after he claimed the historic gold medal
Woods launched a comeback that has been compared to Salt Lake Sydney star Steven Bradbury
The Aussie skier (pictured middle) beat out Mikael Kingsbury (pictured left) who is widely regarded as the sport’s GOAT
‘After qualification one I had a pretty deep meeting with my sports psychologist and I just felt pretty lost as an athlete,’ he told Nine.
‘I felt like I skied my heart out in that first qualifier and we actually talked about, ‘Oh, what happens if we turn it around in a couple of days?’,’ Woods added.
The athlete has become Australia’s seventh Winter Olympics gold medallist.
Woods is the nation’s first athlete to stand on the top step of the podium since Jakara Anthony in 2022.
The NSW-born Olympian has since been praised by fellow Australian athletes.
‘He deserves this. He’s worked so hard,’ Aussie flag bearer and fellow moguls skier Matt Graham said.
‘The whole team has worked hard. It’s a win for Cooper and for the team. It’s a win for Australia.’
Woods has pointed to the sacrifices in his life as a main reason for the accolade.
The 25-year-old (pictured) has been mentored by Wallabies legend John Eales
Woods (pictured) was left visibly emotional after his stunning victory
The Aussie (pictured) has joined an exclusive club of Winter Olympics gold medalists to hail from Down Under
‘I am Cooper Woods and I’m an Olympic champion. Let’s go,’ Woods said after his win.
‘I have no words. The highs and the lows, the injuries and the setbacks, the time away from family and away from home – all that sacrifice has been for this little thing.’
Woods’ gold officially makes moguls Australia’s best sport at the Winter Games.
The event continues today and will wrap up on February 22 with the closing ceremony.
