Alpine Athletes Selected to 2026 Australian Winter Olympic Team
Published Tue 27 Jan 2026
Courtesy AOC
Alpine skiers Phoebe Heaydon, Madison Hoffman and Harry Laidlaw have been named as the final members of the Australian Winter Olympic Team.
Sydneysiders Madison Hoffman and Phoebe Heaydon will make their Olympic debut in the Slalom and Giant Slalom events. It is sweet reward for Hoffman who was selected onto the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Team but was injured just days out from the Games and forced to withdraw.
PyeongChang 2018 Olympian Harry Laidlaw makes his long-awaited return in the Giant Slalom.
“Harry, Phoebe and Madison have each carved their own path through one of the most competitive global winter sports. Their selection is a testament to years of discipline, resilience and gritty performances. To be amongst the world’s best is an outstanding achievement, I can’t wait to see them in action,” Australian Winter Olympic Team Chef de Mission Alisa Camplin AM OLY said.
“Harry has waited eight long years to get another run at the Games, and Madi has come back from the heartbreak of injury at Beijing 2022 and a double knee reconstruction. These are truly inspiring stories of determination and belief.
“Watching Phoebe’s progression this season, to make her World Cup debut has been fantastic. She’s only 20 years old, how great is it to see Australia’s next generation athletes rising to the top.
“Alpine skiing is one of the most technically challenging winter sports. It is also one of the most popular, enjoyed by thousands of Australians across the country. I know there will be a large contingent of Aussies right behind this trio throughout their Olympic campaign.”
The road to Milano Cortina has been long for Laidlaw, a knee injury forced him out of Beijing but just as he thought he was on the road to recovery, in 2024, he injured his back requiring surgery.
“To be named part of the Australia Olympic Team is a true honour, and our Alpine team has such a long and amazing history,” Laidlaw said.
“Getting here hasn’t been easy. It’s been a series of highs and lows, but the support from friends and family has been immense, I really could not have gotten here without them.”
Both Heaydon and Hoffman have based themselves in the United States so they can continue to pursue study and a career in Alpine racing.
“To be able to add my name to the proud heritage of Australian Alpine skiers at the Olympics is a real privilege,” Hoffman said.
“I can’t wait to get to Italy and experience my first Games.”
In preparation for the Games, Heaydon looks up to another Australian sporting hero to find her composure and keep her focus in Milan.
“I’m so excited to get to my first Games but it is vital that I remain focused to ensure that I deliver my best performance. During the last F1 season I really admired Oscar Piastri’s calm, his measured approach to his sport, the way he carries himself with remarkable poise under pressure and I want to try and emulate this in my own performance,” Heaydon said.
“It has been a good season so far and I really want to be focused to build on that at these Games.”
The Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games start on February 6. Men’s Alpine Skiing will be held at the Stelvio Ski Centre in Bormio. Women’s Alpine takes place at Tofane Alpine Skiing Centre, Cortina d’Ampezzo. Men’s Giant Slalom is on Valentine’s Day, 14 February, while the Women’s Giant Slalom and Slalom will be on 15 and 18 February respectively.
