Aussie gold medallist Jakara Anthony caught out by podium wardrobe blunder days after helping Cooper Woods

Super skier Jakara Anthony has found herself on both sides of a wardrobe blunder at the Winter Olympics, coming to a teammate’s rescue before having to call on a retired Olympian herself.

The Australian regained her golden glow at the Milan-Cortina Games when, inspired by three-time Olympic champion Jessica Fox, she bounced back from individual moguls disappointment to win dual moguls gold.

But while she was always a medal chance Anthony was caught out ahead of the presentation.

When Cooper Woods won his surprise gold medal this week the young gun realised he didn’t have any shoes to climb the podium.

He borrowed Anthony’s boots, leaving her to stand in the snow in socks.

Despite that experience — and having already stood atop a podium at Beijing 2022 — Anthony forgot to pack crucial pieces of clothing for the dual moguls event.

And so the 27-year-old had to ask 2014 Olympic moguls skier Taylah O’Neill to borrow her pants, beanie and shoes for the ceremony.

O’Neill, working with the Australian team in a media role, at least avoided having to stand around in socks, completing her duties in Anthony’s gold medal-winning ski boots.

Anthony triumphed in dual moguls after falling heartbreakingly short of becoming the first Australian to defend a Winter Olympic gold medal when she stumbled in the individual moguls last week.

But she had a heavy-hitter to call on in six-time Olympic canoe medallist Fox, who has embraced the winter scene so much she changed her flights to stay longer in Livigno.

As well as presenting medals to Cooper Woods and Scotty James in her role as a member of the IOC’s Athletes Commission, Fox has been a constant at events.

She comforted Anthony when she fell devastatingly short and then celebrated wildly when she won.

Anthony said the pair had formed a special bond.

“When I was home injured last year, I went up and watched Jess and Noemie (Fox) race up in Penrith and I got to have some really good chats with Jess,” Anthony said after her race.

“We talked about a few experiences we’ve had that are pretty similar and then she was here the other day when it didn’t go my way.

“She’s been in that exact same position before, so there’s not many people that have been in that position and can kind of understand and give advice, so I was really fortunate to have her here and then for her to be here today to see the turnaround, that was really special too.”

As well as sharing flag bearer advice after she led the team in Paris in 2022 and Anthony at these Winter Games, Fox said she told Anthony to “trust” herself that she’d done the work to succeed.

“It’s been really special to be here and watch her and support her,” Fox told AAP.

“I think for her, it’s always been really about doing good runs and putting down the best performance because she knows that when she does that, she’s got a good chance of being on top of the day.

“You can’t control the result, you can only control what you’re putting out there in your performance and so if she just focuses on that, then the rest will come.

“I’m sending all my good vibes to all the Aussies out here because what they’re doing is incredible.”

- with AAP