Youth Olympic Champion Josie Baff reflects on historic gold medal win one year on

When she was selected to travel to Lausanne for the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic Games, Josie Baff didn’t contemplate that she would return with a gold medal.

Baff made history when she edged out French rider Margaux Herpin by 0.05 seconds in the Snowboard Cross to win Australia’s first ever Winter Youth Olympic gold medal.

When reflecting on the win12 months on, the Jindabyne local admits it still feels surreal.

“It’s so crazy that it’s already been a year, it honestly feels like just last week I was in Switzerland with the most awesome team and group of friends,” Baff said.

“Looking back, I still get that same feeling, even just watching the video is insane. It’s like the adrenaline comes back and I can feel the moment over and over again.

“The atmosphere, the crowd - it was absolutely incredible and definitely one of the greatest experiences of my life,” she said.

A lot has changed for the now 17-year-old since January 2020, and while challenging, the youngster believes the year provided her with some unique benefits.

“2020 was definitely a challenging year for everyone but I think I got lucky, in a way, with the timing as I was in year 12.

“Not having much access to snow made the decision between snowboarding and school a lot easier - mainly because there wasn’t one to make!

“It was hard to stay motivated not knowing when I would be able to compete again, but with that being said my team and I converted our main focus to strength and conditioning, as well as nutrition, psychology and other things that we may not have thought about during a typical season.”

With just over one year to go until the 2022 Winter Olympic Games, Baff has her sights set on an Olympic debut .

“I want to enable myself to have the best chance of qualifying and competing at the 2022 Olympic Games, so I’ve decided to focus solely on snowboarding for the next year leading into the Games,” Baff said.

Despite the dynamic and ever-changing COVID-19 situation, Baff is hoping to travel overseas later this month.

“Fingers crossed I’ll be travelling overseas at the end of January and I’m beyond excited to get back on snow and be doing what I love again,” Baff said.

“I’m looking forward to being able to work on my riding and just having some fun! For me, snowboarding is an escape and it’s when I feel most at ease, so having not been able to be on my board much in the last 12 months has certainly been different.”

“I’m just craving the adrenaline rush of racing and challenging myself both physically and mentally again,” she said.