Discipline: Freestyle Moguls
Olympic Participation: Salt Lake City 2002  
Medal awarded in: 2021

Jane Butko started skiing with her family on plastic skis at Mt Hotham and joined Team Hotham at 8 years of age. Initially training and competing in Alpine, after competing in her first mogul competition at the Victorian interschools Championships, she fell in love with the sport and committed to mogul training full time.

Her pathway to competing at the highest level in her sport started by spending a few seasons in France, she was given the opportunity to compete in some European Cups where she podiumed. This led to selection to her first Development training camp in Whistler Canada, where she was coached by the Australian team coach Steve Desovich. She then made the Australian Moguls team the following season and competed in first world cup in Sweden. 

Butko had a successful international career. She made 35 World Cup starts over 5 years. Her best World Cup placing was 13th in Ruka 2003.

She competed in two World Championships in 2001 and 2003, with her best performance at this level an 11th place at the Deer Valley in 2003.

Butko considers the best moment in her skiing career was competing at the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympic Games. She reminisces “it was an opportunity of a lifetime”.

Looking back on her career, she is thankful to her coaches Dave Speirs at Team Hotham, along with Steve Desovich, for their guidance and knowledge, along with her parents who were her biggest supporters.

Butko still loves skiing and has taught her own kids. Still up for challenge, she has completed an Ironman, four marathons and the cycling event Peaks Challenge which involves riding 4000m of vertical.