What was going through your mind when you found out you had placed 2nd at the Youth Olympics?  

When the judges’ scores came in and the event commentator announced that I was progressing to the big final, I knew at that stage that I had won a Youth Olympics medal. It was a surreal moment, and I was super excited. 

Could you describe the atmosphere and excitement of participating in such a prestigious event? 

The atmosphere of the Youth Olympic Games was like nothing I’d ever experienced at a competition. All of the competitors lived in the athletes’ village together, so I got to meet lots of new people from different countries. It was really exciting to then compete against the friends I had made. Being part of such a talented and competitive environment helped push me to compete at my best.  

What was the most memorable moment for you during the Youth Olympics? 

There were so many incredible moments during the Youth Olympics, but my most memorable moment is when I got to hug my family, coach and Australian team members after I’d won the silver medal.  

How did you prepare mentally and physically for the competition? Did you have any pre-competition rituals or routines? 

I try to keep my routine on the morning of competitions the same as the routine I follow every day for training. On the morning of the competition in Korea, I started the day by eating a huge breakfast so that I would have heaps of energy out on the mogul course. The days are quite long so it was important to be extra fuelled. After breakfast, I did a warm-up to physically prepare my body and then I geared up to go out and compete. At the top of the course before my duals, I visualised my run to mentally prepare myself.   

Can you share any valuable lessons or insights you gained from competing at the Youth Olympics? 

Something I learnt throughout my two weeks at the Youth Olympics was to mentally approach my competition run as if it is just another training run. This helped me to keep calm in the start gate and enjoy the moment.  

What advice would you give to younger athletes aspiring to reach the same level of competition as you? 

My advice to younger athletes is to train hard, use any setbacks as motivation, and most importantly have fun.  

Looking ahead, what are your goals and aspirations in your sporting career? 

I see the Youth Olympics as a stepping stone towards my long-term goals of competing on the World Cup circuit and ultimately representing Australia at the Olympic Games.