Olympic Legend Torah Bright Backs Aussie Hopefuls for Winter Games Gold
As the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics approach, Australian snowboarding icon Torah Bright has voiced strong confidence in the nation's medal prospects, particularly highlighting two local athletes as genuine gold medal contenders. With the Games set to commence on February 4, Bright believes Australia is poised to surpass its previous record of four medals achieved at the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
Bright's Bold Predictions for Australian Success
In an exclusive interview with The Canberra Times, the Olympic champion and Channel Nine commentator expressed unwavering optimism about Australia's chances. "We have quite a few medal hopes including Josie Baff and Valentino Guseli," Bright stated. "There's a handful of legitimate medals coming for Australia from moguls, snowboard-cross, aerial skiing, and halfpipe. I just believe anything is possible."
Bright, who famously won gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games and silver in Sochi 2014, now brings her expertise to the commentary booth. Her insights carry significant weight, given her deep connections to the Australian snow sports community and her firsthand experience of Olympic pressure.
Josie Baff: A Rising Star in Snowboard-Cross
Canberra-born Josie Baff, 23, is emerging as a formidable force in snowboard-cross. Bright shares a special connection with Baff, having trained with her father, Peter Baff, in Jindabyne and Saint Moritz before Josie was even born. "I was living overseas for such a long time, but coming from Jindabyne, I've always been cheering for her," Bright revealed.
Baff's recent performances suggest she is on track to significantly improve upon her 18th-place finish in the individual event and 13th in the mixed team at the Beijing Games. Her medal haul includes a silver at a FIS World Cup event in China last month, two bronze medals and another silver in 2025, plus gold in a team World Cup event and a victory at the European Cup in Austria in November.
"Her World Cup circuit medals are stacking up now," Bright noted. "She's proving that she's one to watch. Anything happens on that one day every four years, but she's definitely one of the best in the sport. For Josie, it's all possible to end up on top of a podium."
Valentino Guseli: Overcoming Adversity to Shine
Valentino Guseli, a 20-year-old from Cooma, has faced a challenging path to these Games. After making his Olympic debut as a 16-year-old in Beijing, Guseli suffered a serious setback in December 2024, tearing his anterior cruciate ligament during a big air event in China. This injury sidelined him for much of last year, complicating his Olympic qualification efforts.
Despite this hurdle, Guseli demonstrated remarkable resilience, winning bronze in his first halfpipe competition upon return in the United States in December, followed by a gold medal in Calgary. While he was unable to regain top form in disciplines like big air and slopestyle, his performances in the halfpipe secured his spot on the Australian team.
"With his injury for him to still reach the Olympics, it's just incredible," Bright remarked. "I am sad we won't see him in the big air and slopestyle, but that might put a fire under him to put on a real show. He's out to be the best."
Bright added that Guseli could be a dark horse in the men's halfpipe, behind established stars like fellow Australian Scotty James and top Japanese competitors.
A Growing Legacy for Australian Snow Sports
Baff and Guseli are part of a 53-strong Australian Winter Olympic team, the nation's second-largest ever and the biggest since the Sochi Games. Notably, female athletes comprise 62.3 percent of the squad, marking the highest representation in any Australian Olympic team, Summer or Winter.
Bright reflected on the evolution of snow sports in Australia, expressing hope that she has inspired the next generation. "When the path isn't paved yet, there's no gateway," she said. "There's now pathways for those little frothers who just love snowboarding, to those who want to make it to the Olympics, and it allows them to have their dreams realised like mine were."
The 2026 Winter Olympics will run from February 4 to 23 in Milano and Cortina, Northern Italy, with live coverage available on Channel Nine and the WIN Network.
