Jakara Anthony has become Australia’s most successful winter sports athlete, claiming her 42nd career podium at the Ruka FIS World Cup event in Finland.
Anthony claimed silver in the World Cup opener, surpassing the mark of aerial skier Kirstie Marshall, who won 41 career medals.
The 26-year-old defending World Cup champion, who won a record-breaking 14 out of 16 events last season, was pipped by returning French star Perrine Laffont.
“I got three runs down which is the first thing you need to do to be in it,” Anthony told the OWIA at the base of the famous Battery Run.
“I’m pretty happy with what we were able to achieve.
“Walking away with a second place at the start of a super long season is a really good way to kick it off.”
Australian moguls skier Jakara Anthony finished second behind France’s Perrine Laffont in a World Cup event in Finland. (OWIA: Chris Hocking)
The Ruka event saw the return of five-time world champion and 2018 Olympic champion Laffont to competition after the 26-year-old took a year off competition.
“It was really hard to come back,” Laffont told FIS.
“It’s hard to believe. This is crazy, it’s like a dream. I’m just super happy right now.”
The return of Laffont — who narrowly missed out on a medal at the Beijing Games, finishing fourth — to the World Cup circuit marks another jump in the quality of competition as athletes gear up for the 2026 Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
For Anthony, who has been driving the standards for the last few years, the extra competition is a welcome bonus for the sport.
Jakara Anthony scored better for her jumps in the final than France’s Perrine Laffont, but lost overall by 1.13 points. (OWIA: Chris Hocking)
“I think it’s great to have so many chicks up there at that top end of the sport,” Anthony said.
“That’s what makes it exciting, we’re all going out there each day, fighting for that top spot which means we’re all pushing each other and we’ve really seen the sport progress over the past few years.”
In the men’s event, Aussie Matt Graham finished in 10th place after qualifying third for the final, with 2022 Olympic finalist Cooper Woods finishing 13th.
Canadian legend Mikaël Kingsbury won for the 11th time on the Battery Run to claim a record extending 91st overall World Cup title.
That’s some way ahead of Anthony, but the Barwon Heads athlete was understandably still thrilled to become the outright Australian leader in podium finishes.
“Wow, that’s another big stat,” a beaming Anthony said.
“I never find out about these things until I’ve broken them, but that’s another cool accolade.
“Just super proud of me and my team and how we’ve gone about that.
“It’s been a super long journey and there’s still a long way to go, looking to rack up a few more this season.”
The moguls circuit shifts to Idre in Sweden next week for a single and dual moguls programme.