Aussies to watch at PyeongChang Olympics

Tuesday, 9 January 2018:

KEY AUSTRALIANS COMPETING AT THE PYEONGCHANG WINTER OLYMPICS

BRITT COX (moguls): The world champion is just 23 but will compete at her third Olympics in PyeongChang. Has dominated the sport over the past two seasons with seven World Cup gold medals, winning recent events in Finland and Canada in a strong lead-up campaign.

SCOTTY JAMES (snowboard halfpipe): James, also 23 and a two-time Olympian, defended his world championship last year and also holds the X Games title. He has rarely finished outside the top 10 of World Cup events since 2013 and is Australia's best chance to win its first medal in the men's discipline.

ALEX PULLIN (snowboard cross): Went into Sochi 2014 as gold medal favourite before crashing out in the quarter-finals but has remained a force in the sport since. The two-time world champion tops the season's rankings with two World Cup gold medals and a bronze.

DANIELLE SCOTT (aerial ski): Claimed four podiums in seven World Cup events to finish last season ranked second in the world. Won a gold medal in China last month to be the world No.3 in 2017-18.

LYDIA LASSILA (aerial ski): A proven Olympic performer with gold in Vancouver and bronze in Sochi, the 35-year-old has been quiet leading to PyeongChang. She has skipped the World Cup so far but remains on track to become the first Australian woman to compete at five winter Games.

TORAH BRIGHT (snowboard halfpipe): The Vancouver champion and Sochi silver medallist has rarely competed over the past three years but last month confirmed her intent for a fourth Olympics. She began her PyeongChang campaign with a gold and silver medal in the second-tier Nor-Am Cup in Colorado.

MATT GRAHAM (moguls): The 23-year-old heads to his second Olympics after a breakout season in 2016-17 where he was consistently in the World Cup top 10. He holds the No.3 world ranking after three straight podium finishes this season.

ADAM LAMBERT (snowboard cross): Announced himself as a medal threat with a second place in France last month. A consistent start to the season sees him sit fourth in world standings.

JARRYD HUGHES (snowboard cross): The 2014 Olympian has endured five knee operations, proving he has fully recovered by taking out the World Cup event in Austria last month. Hughes was ranked second in the world heading to Sochi before placing 17th.

DAVID MORRIS (aerial ski): The 31-year-old won silver in Sochi and bronze at last year's world championships, but has been otherwise inconsistent over the past three years.

HARLEY WINDSOR AND EKATERINA ALEXANDROVSKAYA (figure skating): Outsiders for a medal, but the pair could surprise on the back of a memorable 2017. After winning the world junior championship and gaining Olympic qualification, they took out the Junior Grand Prix in Japan last month.

DEANNA LOCKETT (short track speed skating): The 1500m world No.6 competed well as an 18 year old in Sochi, finishing 26th in her favoured event and ninth in the 1000m. Claimed a 1500m World Cup bronze medal in Budapest in September.






AAP