Australia at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Australia competed at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States, winning its first two gold medals in the Winter Games. It was the nation's best performance at the Winter Games prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Australia at the
2002 Winter Olympics
IOC codeAUS
NOCAustralian Olympic Committee
Websitewww.olympics.com.au
in Salt Lake City
Competitors27
Flag bearer Adrian Costa (opening)
Steven Bradbury (closing)
Medals
Ranked 15th
Gold
2
Silver
0
Bronze
0
Total
2
Winter Olympics appearances (overview)
Other related appearances
1906 Intercalated Games
 Australasia (1908–1912)

Overview

Australia's first ever Winter Olympic gold, also the first such medal won by a competitor from any Southern Hemisphere country and semitropical nation was won by Steven Bradbury in the 1000 m short track speed skating. Well off the pace of the medal favourites, Bradbury was positioned at the rear in the semifinal, only to see his competitors crash into each other, allowing him through to the final. Again well off the pace in the final all four other competitors crashed out at the final corner, leaving a shocked Bradbury to take the gold medal. Bradbury was also part of the 1994 relay team that won Australia's first Winter Olympics medal.

Alisa Camplin, who hadn't won a world cup event before and was so nervous she didn't eat dinner the night before the final, won the second gold, in aerial skiing. Jacqui Cooper was previously a favourite, but she injured herself before the competition.

Jenny Owens had a top 10 result, finishing 9th in the combined downhill event, the second best performance by any Australian at an Olympic Games.

Australia competed in alpine skiing, figure skating, freestyle skiing, short track speed skating and snowboarding. This was the fewest sports Australia had competed in since 1984. No Australian cross-country skiers competed in the Olympics for the first time since 1976, and no bobsledders competed for the first time since Australia's debut in 1988. Australian bobsledder Will Alstergren said "We also beat half the teams currently in Salt Lake City, but unfortunately we couldn't meet the very high standard of the AOC, the Australian Olympic Committee". Australian selection standards was also listed as a factor for Australia not competing in cross-country skiing at Salt Lake City.

During the 2002 Winter Olympics, the Australian broadcaster, the Seven Network, included in its coverage an irreverent talk show called The Ice Dream, which interviewed several celebrities and promoted the Smiggin Holes 2010 Winter Olympic bid. Bradbury's and Camplin's triumphs were celebrated by Australia Post issuing stamps of them, which followed on from them issuing stamps of Australian gold medallists at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. They were produced by high-speed offset stamp-printing, unlike the digitally produced 2000 stamps. Bradbury's stamp was issued on 20 February, and Camplin's was issued on 22 February, four days after their respective victories. Each received A$20,000 for the use of their image. Bradbury said "Should get me a car. I haven't had a car for a long time." and later described having a stamp issued as "a great honour". Camplin was also delighted, saying "For us to be put in with the summer Olympians who had their stamps and the previous 39 sporting legends who've had their stamps is amazing."

Medalists
Medal Name Sport Event Date
 GoldSteven BradburyShort track speed skatingMen's 1000 m16 February
 GoldAlisa CamplinFreestyle skiingWomen's aerials18 February

Alpine skiing
Main article: Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics

[1]

Men
Athlete Event Run 1 (DH) Run 2 (Sl) Run 3 (Sl) Final/Total
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Diff Rank
A. J. Bear Downhill N/A 1:43.19 +4.06 37
Super-G N/A Disqualified
Combined 1:41.02 12 52.45 24 Disqualified
Craig Branch Downhill N/A 1:45.34 +6.21 45
Super-G N/A 1:27.15 +5.57 27
Combined Disqualified
Brad Wall Giant slalom 1:15.69 37 1:14.59 35 N/A 2:30.28 +7.00 33
Michael Dickson Slalom 56.88 41 Did not finish N/A Did not finish
Women
Athlete Event Run 1 (DH) Run 2 (Sl) Run 3 (Sl) Final/Total
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Diff Rank
Alice Jones Downhill N/A 1:43.07 +3.51 27
Super-G N/A Did not finish
Combined 47.80 18 44.59 10 1:17.83 15 2:50.22 +6.94 12
Jenny Owens Downhill N/A 1:44.15 +4.59 29
Super-G N/A 1:17.84 +4.25 29
Giant slalom Did not finish N/A Did not finish
Combined 47.37 14 44.98 12 1:16.96 9 2:49.31 +6.03 9
Jeannette Korten Giant slalom 1:19.00 30 Disqualified N/A Disqualified
Slalom 57.85 34 58.25 24 N/A 1:56.10 +10.00 25
Rowena Bright Slalom 1:00.22 42 Did not finish N/A Did not finish
Combined 1:04.95 29 46.27 20 1:19.46 21 3:10.68 +27.40 30
Kathrin Nikolussi Slalom Did not finish N/A Did not finish
Zali Steggall Slalom Did not finish N/A Did not finish

Figure skating
Main article: Figure skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics

[1]

Athlete(s) Event CD1 CD2 SP/OD FS/FD Total
FP FP FP FP TFP Rank
Anthony Liu Men's N/A 10 Q 10 15.0 10
Stephanie Zhang Ladies' N/A 25 Did not advance

Freestyle skiing
Main article: Freestyle skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Alisa Camplin provided Australia with its second gold medal for the games.[1]

Men
Athlete Event Qualifying Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Adrian Costa Moguls 24.13 18 Did not advance
Trennon Paynter 22.53 23 Did not advance
Women
Athlete Event Qualifying Final
Points Rank Points Rank
Manuela Berchtold Moguls 19.59 27 Did not advance
Maria Despas Moguls 21.19 21 Did not advance
Jane Sexton Moguls 20.47 25 Did not advance
Alisa Camplin Aerials 183.66 2 Q 193.47
Lydia Ierodiaconou Aerials 166.06 10 Q 169.38 8

Short track speed skating
Main article: Short track speed skating at the 2002 Winter Olympics

Steven Bradbury won Australia's and the Southern Hemisphere's first Winter Olympics gold medal in the 1000 metres event. Richard Goerlitz also attended these games, but did not compete.[2]

Men
Athlete Event Heat Quarterfinal Semifinal Final
Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank Time Rank
Steven Bradbury 500 m 43.225 2 Q 44.982 3 Did not advance 14
1000 m 1:30.956 1 Q 1:29.265 2 Q 1:29.189 1 Q 1:29.109
1500 m 2:22.632 3 Q N/A 2:25.457 4 QB B Final
2:28.604		 10
Andrew McNee 500 m 44.289 4 Did not advance 28
Mark McNee 1000 m 1:39.325 2 Q 1:46.701 4 Did not advance 15
1500 m 2:27.840 5 N/A Did not advance 28
Steven Bradbury
Alex McEwan
Mark McNee
Stephen Lee		 5000 m relay N/A 7:19.177 3 QB B Final
7:45.271		 6

Snowboarding
Main article: Snowboarding at the 2002 Winter Olympics

[2]

Parallel GS
Athlete Event Qualification Round of 16 Quarterfinals Semifinals Finals
Time Rank Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Opposition
Time		 Rank
Zeke Steggall Men's parallel giant slalom 38.69 26 Did not advance 26

See also

References
  1. "Salt Lake City 2002 Official Report - Volume 1" (PDF). Salt Lake Organizing Committee. LA84 Foundation. 2002. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
  2. "Salt Lake City 2002 Official Report - Volume 3" (PDF). Salt Lake Organizing Committee. LA84 Foundation. 2002. Retrieved 1 November 2013.
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