Sport
21 February, 2026
Far from hot for Olympian
As world winter sports afficionados scratch their heads over Australia’s most successful run at the Winter Olympics, Cairns can throw yet another spanner in the irony works by laying claim to Australian freestyle skier, Jakara Anthony.
The two-time gold medallist was born in Cairns in 1998 and spent her early years here before her family moved to Barwon Heads in Victoria.
The only Australian Olympian to have won two successive gold medals – her first medal in 2022 for the women’s moguls event and a second in last week’s inaugural women’s dual moguls event – her victory added to the most successful Winter Olympics campaign by Australia to date.
It also fuelled light-hearted commentary by some international media about how a country known for its sun and surf sports could be so successful – beating even Canada on the gold medal tally board last week.
“Did Australia even have snow?” one commentator asked. And another noted Jakara was born in one of the hottest cities in the country – Cairns.
Cairns-based sport and exercise physician Dr Kira James has also been supporting the Australian Winter Olympic Team in Italy.
Dr James is also a senior lecturer at JCU.
The university said it was proud of Dr James’ role with the national team, describing her appointment as recognition of the expertise within its academic community.
