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.

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 MedalNameSportEventDate Short track speed skating Men's 1000 m 16 February Freestyle skiing Women's aerials 18 February

Alpine skiing

Men AthleteEventRun 1 (DH)Run 2 (Sl)Run 3 (Sl)Final/TotalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeDiffRankA. J. BearDownhillcolspan=6 1:43.19 +4.0637Super-Gcolspan=6 DisqualifiedCombined1:41.021252.4524DisqualifiedCraig BranchDownhillcolspan=6 1:45.34 +6.2145Super-Gcolspan=6 1:27.15 +5.5727CombinedDisqualifiedBrad WallGiant slalom1:15.69371:14.5935colspan=2 2:30.28 +7.0033Michael DicksonSlalom56.8841did not finishcolspan=2 did not finish

Women AthleteEventRun 1 (DH)Run 2 (Sl)Run 3 (Sl)Final/TotalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeDiffRankAlice JonesDownhillcolspan=6 1:43.07 +3.5127Super-Gcolspan=6 did not finishCombined47.801844.59101:17.83152:50.22 +6.9412Jenny OwensDownhillcolspan=6 1:44.15 +4.5929Super-Gcolspan=6 1:17.84 +4.2529Giant slalomdid not finishcolspan=2 did not finishCombined47.371444.98121:16.9692:49.31 +6.039Jeannette KortenGiant slalom1:19.0030Disqualifiedcolspan=2 DisqualifiedSlalom57.853458.2524colspan=2 1:56.10 +10.0025Rowena BrightSlalom1:00.2242did not finishcolspan=2 did not finishCombined1:04.952946.27201:19.46213:10.68 +27.4030Kathrin NikolussiSlalomdid not finishcolspan=2 did not finishZali SteggallSlalomdid not finishcolspan=2 did not finish

Figure skating

Athlete(s)Event / /TotalRankAnthony LiuMen'scolspan=2 10 Q1015.010Stephanie ZhangLadies'colspan=2 25did not advance

Freestyle skiing

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

Men AthleteEventQualifyingFinalPointsRankPointsRankAdrian CostaMoguls24.1318did not advanceTrennon Paynter22.5323did not advance

Women AthleteEventQualifyingFinalPointsRankPointsRankManuela BerchtoldMoguls19.5927did not advanceMaria DespasMoguls21.1921did not advanceJane SextonMoguls20.4725did not advanceAlisa CamplinAerials183.662 Q193.47Lydia IerodiaconouAerials166.0610 Q169.388

Short track speed skating

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.

Men AthleteEventHeatQuarterfinalSemifinalFinalTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankTimeRankSteven Bradbury500 m43.2252 Q44.9823did not advance141000 m1:30.9561 Q1:29.2652 Q1:29.1891 Q1:29.1091500 m2:22.6323 Qcolspan=2 2:25.4574 QBB Final 2:28.60410Andrew McNee500 m44.2894did not advance28Mark McNee1000 m1:39.3252 Q1:46.7014did not advance151500 m2:27.8405colspan=2 did not advance28Steven Bradbury Alex McEwan Mark McNee Stephen Lee5000 m relaycolspan=4 7:19.1773 QBB Final 7:45.2716

Snowboarding

Parallel GS AthleteEventQualificationRound of 16QuarterfinalsSemifinalsFinalsTimeRankOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeOppositionTimeRankZeke SteggallMen's parallel giant slalom38.6926did not advance26

Australia at the 2002 Winter Olympics

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