Aussie teen weaves a silver thread for World Cup medal

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Australia’s Indra Brown is a real high achiever, claiming silver at the World Cup event in Colorado.
Australia’s Indra Brown is a real high achiever, claiming silver at the World Cup event in Colorado.

Australian teenager Indra Brown has continued her remarkable run of results ahead of the Winter Olympics, securing back-to-back World Cup medals with silver in the freeski halfpipe in Colorado.

The 15-year-old finished second at Copper Mountain on Saturday (local time), improving on her historic bronze from last week’s debut in China.

The Melburnian’s performance comes after she became the youngest Australian to land on a winter sports World Cup podium.

Brown’s medal in China eclipsed snowboarders Torah Bright and Valentino Guseli, who both podiumed aged 16 years and 11 months, while highlighting why she will likely be one to watch next year in Italy.

The stellar form has Brown perfectly placed to qualify for the Milano-Cortina Games, with the top 25 in the world rankings earning a berth.

Brown now sits second in the World Cup standings with 140 points, trailing Zoe Atkin (180) and ahead of Zhang Kexin (105).

In a best-of-two-run final under tricky flat light at the Colorado resort, Brown opened strongly with a score of 80 points, putting her in second position.

She looked set to improve in her final run but crashed while attempting a new trick on the last jump, holding on to claim the silver medal.

Indra Brown on the podium with Zoe Atkin and Kexin Chang.
Indra Brown (l) will be aiming to return to the podium at the Winter Olympics. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

The gold medal went to Great Britain’s Atkin with 89.25 points, while Chinese skier Zhang claimed bronze (77.50).

Brown’s next event is the Calgary World Cup on January 3, as she looks to continue her incredible start to the season.

She looms among Australia’s strong medal chances at the Winter Olympics, which run from February 6-22.

Other potential Australian contenders in Italy include defending moguls champion Jakara Anthony and two-time Games medallist Scotty James (snowboard halfpipe).

Indra Brown.
Indra Brown celebrates after claiming silver at Copper Mountain. (PR IMAGE PHOTO)

Also in with a chance are the multi-talented Guseli (snowboard halfpipe/slopestyle/big air), Beijing bronze medallist Tess Coady (snowboard slopestyle/big air), in-form bobsleigh star Bree Walker and aerial skiers Laura Peel and Danielle Scott.

Walker sealed back-to-back World Cup triumphs in Latvia on Saturday.

Australian curling pair Tahli Gill and Dean Hewitt, ranked No.1 in the world last month and bronze medallists at the 2025 world championships, missed out on a spot at the Olympics.

Gill and Hewitt were beaten 10-5 by South Korea on Friday (AEDT) in their final clash at the Olympic qualification tournament in Canada.

AAP