Australian athletes and fans across the nation celebrated as Cooper Woods delivered a stunning performance to claim gold in the moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. This historic victory marked Australia's first gold medal of the Games, but an unexpected reunion with a figure from Woods' past made the moment profoundly more meaningful.
A Heroic Act from Childhood
Long before his Olympic triumph, Cooper Woods demonstrated extraordinary courage at just twelve years old. The incident occurred at Eden's Nethercote Falls, a popular location known for cliff jumping. Woods witnessed his friend, Amalia Plevey, slip and fall approximately ten metres from the cliff face, striking her head during the descent.
Plevey was rendered unconscious in the water below. Without hesitation, Woods jumped in, pulled her to safety, and performed resuscitation using first aid skills he had acquired as a junior surf lifesaver, commonly known as a "nipper." He remained with her until emergency services arrived, an act of bravery that earned him the prestigious 2013 National Child of Courage Award.
An Emotional Surprise at the Games
The emotional weight of Woods' gold medal victory was amplified when Amalia Plevey made a surprise appearance at the Olympic venue. Woods' uncle and former moguls coach, Peter "Toppa" Topalovic, revealed that Plevey arrived in Italy without prior notice to support her lifelong hero.
"Amalia is here. She came here to watch him at the Olympics. She turned up two days ago, and we didn't know," Topalovic told Sunrise host Matt Shirvington during an emotional interview. "She actually stayed with us last night. It was just like everything fell into place, for Amalia to be there, for Cooper to win the gold medal."
A Champion's Character
Topalovic spoke passionately about his nephew's character, emphasizing how Woods' personality and values have endeared him to the winter sports community. "He is just... a great human. People are attracted to him. He's got such a great personality," Topalovic said. "The whole winter sports community absolutely adore Cooper. What he did with young Amalia... it just goes to show the true heart of the guy, the values of his family."
The reunion moved both Topalovic and Shirvington to tears during the broadcast. "Top, you're making me cry. That is an incredible story," Shirvington responded. "We know how much you've put into this sport, and to see it come together like that tonight is just an amazing thing."
The Path to Gold
Woods' victory was particularly remarkable given his performance trajectory leading into the finals. According to Topalovic, Woods was not at his peak during the qualification rounds just days before. "Two days ago on Tuesday in the qualification rounds, Cooper was skiing good. He wasn't skiing great," Topalovic explained.
However, when it mattered most, Woods delivered the performance of his lifetime. "Today he came out with his A-game and each run just got better and better," Topalovic continued. "To be quite honest, we didn't expect to see Cooper sitting first in the superfinals of the eight men last out of the gate. That's the first time Cooper has ever been in that position through his mogul skiing career. And he absolutely nailed the best run of his life to win the gold medal."
Woods stood atop the podium flanked by silver medalist Mikael Kingsbury and bronze medalist Ikuma Horishima, savoring a moment made infinitely more special by the presence of the woman whose life he saved thirteen years earlier. The champion also shared a special moment with Australian Olympic icon Jess Fox, connecting two generations of Australian winter sports excellence.
This gold medal represents not just athletic achievement but the culmination of a journey marked by courage, character, and unexpected reunions. As Topalovic summarized through tears, "I'm super proud of the young man right now more than ever."
