Australia at the 1998 Winter Olympics
Encyclopedia
Australia
competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics
in Nagano, Japan
.
A total number of 24 athletes competed, participating in alpine skiing
, biathlon
, bobsleigh
, cross-country skiing
, figure skating
, freestyle skiing
, short-track speed skating and snowboarding
, which appeared for the first time at the Olympics. Freestyle skiers Kirstie Marshall
and Jacqui Cooper
were some of Australia's best gold medal hopes, but both missed the aerials finals. Zali Steggall
won Australia's first individual Winter Olympics medal, gaining bronze in slalom.
The two-man result was Australia's best in that event.
Joanne Carter's result was Australia's best in women's figure skating.
Moguls
Women
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics
1998 Winter Olympics
The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...
in Nagano, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
A total number of 24 athletes competed, participating in alpine skiing
Alpine skiing
Alpine skiing is the sport of sliding down snow-covered hills on skis with fixed-heel bindings. Alpine skiing can be contrasted with skiing using free-heel bindings: Ski mountaineering and nordic skiing – such as cross-country; ski jumping; and Telemark. In competitive alpine skiing races four...
, biathlon
Biathlon
Biathlon is a term used to describe any sporting event made up of two disciplines. However, biathlon usually refers specifically to the winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting...
, bobsleigh
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
, cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...
, figure skating
Figure skating
Figure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
, freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing
Freestyle skiing is form of skiing which used to encompass two disciplines: aerials, and moguls. Except the two disciplines mentioned earlier Freestyle Skiing now consists of Skicross, Half Pipe and Slope Style...
, short-track speed skating and snowboarding
Snowboarding
Snowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
, which appeared for the first time at the Olympics. Freestyle skiers Kirstie Marshall
Kirstie Marshall
Kirstie Marshall is a notable Australian aerial skier and Victorian state politician.Marshall was an ex-gymnast who became an aerial skier at Mount Buller, Victoria. During her skiing career Marshall won over 40 World Cup medals, including 17 World Cup gold medals...
and Jacqui Cooper
Jacqui Cooper
Jacqui Cooper is an Australian freestyle skier and motivational speaker.Cooper has been participating in aerial skiing since she was 16, and has been in the Australian team for 13 years. She has had many injuries, including a shattered knee and a broken back.She competed at the 1994 Winter...
were some of Australia's best gold medal hopes, but both missed the aerials finals. Zali Steggall
Zali Steggall
Zali Steggall is Australia's most internationally successful alpine skier, winning a bronze medal in slalom at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, and a World Championship gold medal in 1999. Steggall's long Olympic career extended from Albertville in 1992 to Salt Lake City in 2002...
won Australia's first individual Winter Olympics medal, gaining bronze in slalom.
Medalists
| Medal | Name | Sport | Event |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine skiing Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics Alpine skiing at the 2002 Winter Olympics consisted of ten events held near Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. The downhill, Super G, and combined events were held at Snowbasin, the giant slalom at Park City, and the slalom at Deer Valley... |
Women's slalom |
Alpine skiing
- Slalom: Zali Steggall (3rd/27 - bronze)
Biathlon
- 7.5km: Kerryn Rim (née Pethybridge) (47th/64)
- 15km: Kerryn Rim (43rd/64)
Bobsleigh
- Two-man: Jason Giobbi and Adam Barclay (22nd/36)
- Four-man: Jason Giobbi, Scott Walker, Ted Polglaze & Adam Barclay (23rd/31)
The two-man result was Australia's best in that event.
Cross-country skiing
- 10km (classic): Anthony Evans (66th/97), Paul Gray (88th)
- 15km pursuit (freestyle): Anthony Evans (55th/74), Paul Gray (DNF)
- 30km (classic): Anthony Evans (51st/72)
- 50km (freestyle): Anthony Evans (48th/75), Paul Gray (59th)
Figure skating
- Men: Anthony LiuAnthony LiuAnthony Liu is an Chinese-Australian figure skater. He originally represented China but became an Australian citizen in 1996. He is a seven time Australian national champion. He represented Australia at the 1998 Winter Olympics, where he placed 25th, and at the 2002 Winter Olympics, where he...
(25th/29) - Women: Joanne CarterJoanne CarterJoanne 'Jo' Carter is an Australian figure skater. She is the 2007 Australian national champion. She skates at Canternbury, Norwest & Macquarie. She began skating at 4 years of age and went on to represent Australia in the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2006 Winter Olympics. She placed 25th in Torino...
(12th/28) - Pairs: Stephen CarrStephen Carr (figure skater)Stephen Carr is an Australian retired pair skater who currently works as a coach. With sister Danielle, he is a nineteen time Australian national champion. They competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics, placing 13th, the 1994 Winter Olympics, placing 11th, and the 1998 Winter Olympics, again placing...
and Danielle Carr (13th/20)
Joanne Carter's result was Australia's best in women's figure skating.
Freestyle skiing
Aerials- Men: Jono Sweet (DNF 25th)
- Women: Kirstie MarshallKirstie MarshallKirstie Marshall is a notable Australian aerial skier and Victorian state politician.Marshall was an ex-gymnast who became an aerial skier at Mount Buller, Victoria. During her skiing career Marshall won over 40 World Cup medals, including 17 World Cup gold medals...
(14th/24), Jacqui CooperJacqui CooperJacqui Cooper is an Australian freestyle skier and motivational speaker.Cooper has been participating in aerial skiing since she was 16, and has been in the Australian team for 13 years. She has had many injuries, including a shattered knee and a broken back.She competed at the 1994 Winter...
(23rd)
Moguls
- Men: Adrian Costa (21st/30)
- Women: Maria Despas
Short track speed skating
Men- 500m: Steven BradburySteven BradburySteven John Bradbury OAM is a former Australian short track speed skater and four-time Olympian, who won the 1,000 m event at the 2002 Winter Olympics after all of his opponents were involved in a last corner pile-up...
(19th/30) - 1000m: Steven Bradbury (21st/30)
- 5000m relay: Australia (Steven Bradbury, Richard Goerlitz, Kieran Hansen, Andrew McNee, Richard Nizielski) (8th/8)
Women
- 500m: Janet Daly (27th/32)
- 1000m: Janet Daly (29th/30)
Snowboarding
- Giant slalom: Zeke Steggall (28th/34)