Scott wins Australia’s third gold medal of the weekend

Courtesy OWIA

Danielle Scott has capped off an amazing start to the season for Australia’s winter sports athletes, recording the third World Cup victory of the weekend overnight at the aerial skiing event in Ruka, Finland.

Scott joins Olympic Champion mogul skier Jakara Anthony and teenager snowboard cross rider Josie Baff in claiming gold, with Matt Graham also on the mogul skiing podium taking home a bronze medal.

In an impressive performance, Scott led from start to finish over the three rounds of the event, leaving her best jump for last scoring 99.05 with a near perfect “double full-full” triple twisting double back somersault jump.

Behind Scott on the podium was Canadian Marion Thenault with a score of 90.59 in second place, with Zhanbota Aldabergenova of Kazakhstan in third with 80.04 points.

“I can’t stop smiling, it’s been a really good day” said the 32-year-old three time Olympian from NSW, who now trains in Brisbane at the Geoff Henke Olympic Winter Training Centre water jump facility.

“I actually made it through each round in number one, and that was kind of my goal, to just keep doing my best every jump.” 

“It’s been absolutely beautiful out, so this is what we love, and I love to jump.” 

Double World Champion Laura Peel qualified for finals in fourth place, and was the only female to perform the high degree of difficulty triple back somersaults in finals, but was unable to land her jump successfully, finishing in 11th place. 

Also competing for Australia were developing athletes Wesley Naylor and Airleigh Frigo, who both recorded personal best World Cup performances finishing  in 16th place. 

The aerial skiing athletes will continue training in Europe before the World Cup tour resumes in Le Relais, Canada, in mid January.

📷 | FIS