New Winter Olympics chef de mission Alisa Camplin-Warner will seek advice from her summer counterpart Anna Meares, with the pair part of a “generational change” at the Australian Olympic Committee.

Following on from a successful campaign in Paris under the stewardship of retired cycling champion Meares, the AOC has appointed another former athlete in Camplin-Warner to lead the team at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan in Italy.

Camplin-Warner was Australia’s first female Winter Olympics gold medallist, winning the aerial skiing title at Salt Lake City in 2002.

She also won bronze in the event four years later in Torino, Italy.

Camplin-Warner was assistant chef de mission at the last Games in 2022, and will take over from Geoff Lipshut, who steered the Australian team in China.

AOC president Ian Chesterman, chef de mission at six Winter Olympics between 1998 and 2018, said Camplin-Warner and Meares marked a “generational change” at the top.

“It’s very exciting for us to have another gold medallist as a chef de mission, and it’s really a great thing that follows on from Anna Meares, who did a wonderful job in Paris,” Chesterman said at Wednesday’s announcement.

“It’s generational change for us at the AOC to have these two Olympic gold medallists.

“When athletes see someone who’s their leader, someone much closer to their generation and who was part of their life growing up, that’s a great position for us and I think it’s the right way to move forward, that we can bring athletes into these senior roles.

“We saw in Paris with Anna, when athletes can look up and see someone that they admire and respect and know that they have their back, I think it’s fantastic.

“Athletes automatically relate to someone who’s been down that pathway.”

 

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With Meares at the helm in Paris, the Australian team set a new benchmark of 18 gold medals.

In Beijing in 2022, four athletes claimed a medal, including a gold by record-setting mogul skier Jakara Anthony, which was the most in Australian Winter Olympic history.

Prospects look bright for Australia in Italy after a record 2023-24 season in which 15 athletes across eight different winter sports brought home 52 World Cup or world championship medals.

Anthony appears a strong favourite to go back-to-back but Camplin-Warner knows, from personal experience, what a challenge that is.

“Going back-to-back is extraordinarily difficult and I’ve been through that experience myself in trying to defend a gold medal.

“Jakara won 14 golds last season – the most number of gold medals won in a season by any female or male in winter sport – so that was extraordinary.

“That can’t be the standard for every season but I know Jakara focuses on the process of what she needs to do to be her best self and I’ll be there in support of her.”

Camplin-Warner said she was already friends with Meares and intended catching up for her tips on adding to the medal haul and managing the role.

“Absolutely – Anna was extraordinary in Paris and we were a similar generation of Olympic athletes and we get on well as friends,” the 49-year-old said.

“I really look forward to having a few coffees along the way and taking on her advice.

“I’m all ears. I’m coming in for the first time as a chef de mission and feel ready, but I don’t think you can ever know everything, so I’ll take counsel from many people along the way.”

The 2026 Winter Olympics will be held in Milan from February 6-22.

-AAP