Mitchell Johnson: Australia’s growing competitiveness in winter sports shows gen next there are no limits

When you think of the Winter Olympics, Australia probably isn’t the first country that jumps into your head.

Snow, ice, -10C mornings and frozen eyelashes don’t exactly scream the Aussie lifestyle. And yet, here we are again, not just turning up, but turning up with genuine belief.

Australia has sent 53 athletes across 16 sports, and what stands out immediately is how young this team is. Teenagers are everywhere. Not wide-eyed tourists either, these kids are already world-class. They’ve been competing on the biggest stages, living out of suitcases, chasing winters across the globe, and learning early what elite performance demands.

One of the headline acts is impossible to ignore. Indra Brown, just 16 years old, a debutant, and already world No.1 in freeski halfpipe. Let that sink in. At an age where most kids are worrying about school exams, Indra is lining up at the Olympics as a genuine gold-medal hope.

The excitement around this moment will feel massive for her, but she’s not without experience already behind her. Olympic debuts are intimidating for seasoned veterans, let alone teenagers.

But Indra isn’t walking in blind. She’s competed at a world level. She’s beaten the best. She knows what it feels like to drop in under pressure and deliver. That knowledge matters.

Confidence at this level doesn’t come from hype; it comes from experience, and she already has plenty of it. And yes, this will be the biggest moment of all. Australia will be right behind her, and as an athlete in that position, soak it up and enjoy the moment. Indra has earned her moment.

This shift in Australian winter sport hasn’t happened by accident. More Aussies have caught the winter bug over the past decade. Families are travelling more. Kids are being exposed earlier. And many athletes are making the big call to move, or at least spend long periods, where snow and ice are the norm, not the novelty.

Places such as Japan, Canada, and across Europe have become second homes for Australian winter athletes. I’m sure we will hear more about those stories of athletes following the winter, chasing better snow, better facilities, and stronger competition.

It’s a familiar story in elite sport, if the environment doesn’t exist at home, you go and find it.

And it’s showing. Australia isn’t just sending athletes anymore; we’re sending contenders and slowly but surely growing the pool of top athletes.

I’ll admit, I’ve always leaned toward the Summer Olympics. That’s how many of us grew up: 100m sprints, long jump, javelin, swimming and so on.

Those events felt familiar. They were part of school carnivals, backyard races, and afternoons at the local pool. Winter sports always felt a little distant.

That changed recently after a family trip to the snow. I decided to have a crack at snowboarding. Let’s just say, my fear got the better of me. Plenty of hesitation, plenty of falling, plenty of laughs. I had fun, but it was clear I was well outside my comfort zone.

What caught my attention, though, was how easily my kids picked it up and how other youngsters were flying down the hill. No fear. No overthinking. Just give it a go, adjust, and go again.

Watching that made me think about the Australian kids who regularly get those opportunities, who grow up skiing, snowboarding, and being comfortable in those conditions from a young age.

It suddenly made perfect sense why our winter Olympians are emerging younger, sharper, and more confident.

Australia does have snow, of course. Our alpine regions play an important role in skill development. But anyone who’s been overseas knows it’s different.

The snowfall is deeper, softer, and more consistent. The mountains are bigger. The seasons are longer. That exposure accelerates learning, and when it becomes second nature early, the ceiling lifts dramatically.

What’s encouraging is hearing former winter athletes talk about this current generation with genuine excitement. Not hope. Not optimism. Belief. There’s a sense now that Australia isn’t there to make up numbers, as might have been the perception years ago. These athletes are there to compete properly.

That matters more than medals alone. When young kids back home see Australians lining up with real chances, it changes what they believe is possible.

Representation is powerful. Once you see an Aussie stand on a Winter Olympic podium, the idea of becoming a Winter Olympic champion stops feeling far-fetched and starts feeling achievable.

This team feels like a turning point. Youth, talent, global experience, and a growing winter culture behind them. Whether it’s halfpipe, aerials, snowboard cross, or events that still fly under the radar for many Australians, the message is clear: we belong.

The Winter Olympics may not be where Australia built its sporting identity, but it’s fast becoming a place where we’re building something new.

And if this generation delivers the way many expect, the next one won’t see winter sport as unusual at all, just another pathway where Aussies can be the best in the world.