The Winter Olympics 2026 in Milano Cortina has been hit by extreme weather conditions, causing major disruptions to the event schedule. The heavy snowfall and wild weather have created a challenging environment for athletes and organizers alike.
In Livigno, Australia's aerial skiers faced an unexpected challenge when a snowstorm hit just before their qualifying events were set to begin. Both the women's and men's competitions were scheduled for Tuesday, but the relentless snowfall forced organizers to cancel the events for the day, citing safety concerns.
One of the key factors in this decision was the inability to guarantee medical airlift support for injured athletes. With a helicopter unable to access the venue, the risk was deemed too high.
But here's where it gets controversial...
While athlete safety is paramount, the heavy snowfall also poses performance challenges. The deeper snow cover slows down the run-up, especially for skiers at the top of the start list, potentially affecting jump height and, consequently, the difficulty of tricks. Visibility issues further complicate the situation, making precise landings more difficult.
As a result, the entire women's program will now be held on Wednesday, followed by the men's program on Thursday. Typically, Olympic aerial competitions are spread over two days, with qualifying and finals on separate days.
This change will undoubtedly increase the physical demands on the athletes, but Australia's team coach, Renee McElduff, believes it's a format they're comfortable with.
And this is the part most people miss...
The new schedule mimics the format used in World Cup meets, which the Australian team is well-prepared for.
"We normally hop up, the girls are first in the morning, qualifications, and they come home, have a bit of a break, and they'll return for finals in the afternoon. So, it's nothing they're unfamiliar with. They'll be ready to do that exact same format tomorrow. In fact, they're probably more familiar with this format than the original one," McElduff explained.
While the volume of competition may be higher, the team has spent ample time training for it, and McElduff believes it could even play to their advantage.
"We're very familiar with it. The athletes like it, and it gives them momentum."
However, McElduff acknowledged that the wait and change in format could unsettle inexperienced athletes more than the veterans. Fortunately, Australia's team has the advantage of several champions who can offer guidance and support.
Laura Peel, despite being ruled out due to an ACL injury, is still in Livigno, along with aerial skiing Olympic gold medallists Alisa Camplin and Lydia Lassila, who are both in supporting roles as chef de mission and commentator, respectively.
The experienced Danielle Scott, at her fourth Olympic Games, is also available for advice, alongside teammates Abbey Willcox, Airleigh Frigo, and late call-up Sidney Stephens, all of whom are making their Olympic debuts.
The men's competition, featuring Australian Reilly Flanagan, will now follow a similar schedule, with morning qualifying and afternoon finals.
The aerial skiing events weren't the only ones affected. The women's snowboard slopestyle final, featuring 16-year-old Australian Ally Hickman, was also postponed and rescheduled for Thursday at 12:30 am (AEDT).
This disruption follows a day of heavy snowfall in Livigno, with organizers preemptively canceling all events scheduled for Monday, except for the women's free ski final, which was delayed for hours before a break in the weather allowed for a late start.
Canada's Megan Oldham emerged victorious, taking home the gold medal in that event.
So, what do you think? Will the Australian team thrive under the new schedule, or will the challenges prove too much? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
