The party can wait: Olympic champion Anthony touches down in Melbourne, eyes next big meet

Moguls champion Jakara Anthony says she will quickly turn her sights to the final leg of the Freestyle Ski World Cup at Megeve, France, in March – postponing her Olympic celebrations.

Anthony touched back down in Melbourne on Wednesday morning with Beijing gold around her neck and was greeted by her parents, just days after winning Australia’s first winter gold medal in 12 years.

Gold medallist Jakara Anthony is greeted by her mother at Tullamarine.Credit: Getty Images

The 23-year-old from Barwon Heads said the celebrations would be quiet as she lies low ahead of another trip overseas. The final meet of the Freestyle Ski World Cup is to be held in the French Alps in March.

“I’d like to say [I will be] partying and stuff, but I’ve got more world cups coming up, so it’s pretty important I stay COVID-negative so that I can travel back overseas,” Anthony said at Melbourne Airport.

“It still feels like I’m living in a dream, so maybe once I get to sleep a little more and chill out a bit it might start to hit me a bit more.

“It’s been a big past few days and an even bigger past few months. I left back at the start of November, so to finally be back, and be back having accomplished all my dreams, it’s a phenomenal feeling.

Members of the Australian Olympic moguls team on their arrival back in Melbourne: Kate Blamey, Britt Cox, Sophie Ash, Jakara Anthony, Brodie Cox, and Peter McNeil.Credit: Getty Images

“It was really emotional seeing my mum and dad. I’m so excited that they were able to watch from home, and now I’m finally back I can show them the medal and share it all with them, and I think it’s really all going to start to hit home.”

Anthony said it had been a whirlwind week, but the moment she embraced her coach and team following the gold medal-winning run was the memory that would remain most vivid from her time in Beijing.

“It was a very emotional moment and such a whirlwind. I can’t even describe it,” she said.

“They’ve been such a big part of the journey and this medal is as much theirs as it is mine, so to be able to finally share that with them, it was the best feeling in the world.

Jakara Anthony was greeted by her father Darren and mother Sue at the airport.Credit: Getty Images

“To feel so supported and so loved, and just to be able to share what I achieved and what everyone else has been able to achieve, it’s such a big team effort and I can’t thank everyone enough.”

While Anthony had a long-running family joke with her dad Greg that he would get her a puppy if she won an Olympic gold medal, she said he was unlikely to honour the pact.

“I’m not getting my hopes up,” Anthony quipped.

Greg later confirmed just as much, asking how he could get in touch with a politician to find out how to renege on the deal.

Anthony’s mum Sue said it was great to have her daughter back on home soil.

“It took a long time for her to get here, but [we’re] very excited to have her home,” she said.

“We got to speak a lot, leading up to the event. After that, we haven’t really had much contact. Now it’s our time, it’s good. I’ll probably be celebrating and Jakara will probably be sleeping, but it’s very exciting.”

Despite achieving a life’s dream, Anthony said one gold medal would not fulfil her aspirations.

“I’m still as motivated as ever, as motivated as I was before, and I think the medal is something that can just really prove the hard work myself and my team have put into me,” she said.

“It now just gives me a lot more opportunity to inspire others. I feel so privileged to be in this position and so, so grateful for all the support and opportunities I’ve been given.

“I’m heading back to Europe in a couple of weeks and just looking to put down more runs like I was able to at the Olympics, keep working on my skills, get some more training in, and some more competing, and just finish the season on a high.”

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