Alisa Camplin-Warner faced a delightful dilemma. With Australia celebrating its most successful Winter Olympic Games, she had a wealth of talent to choose from for the honor of carrying the national flag at the closing ceremony. Ultimately, it was moguls champion Cooper Woods and aerials silver medalist Danielle Scott who were selected, embodying what Camplin-Warner described as “the iconic team of 2026.”
The announcement came as a surprise to the athletes themselves. During what they believed was a routine photo shoot, Camplin-Warner approached them unexpectedly. “She snuck up on us,” Scott recalled. “We both got conned in there just getting some photos done on the [Olympic] rings and then she’s surprised us and announced it, so it was really cool.”
Woods, visibly moved, expressed his emotions as snow fell outside the Livigno media center. “It means everything,” he shared. “I said this yesterday, it means more than the medals, all the glory and fame. This is like, it’s one of the best things you can do in sport, to fly that flag for your country, so I’m super excited.”
Australia’s Winter Olympic Success
Danielle Scott, who achieved a personal best score in the individual moguls competition and then surpassed it in the mixed team event, described the flag-bearing honor as “the icing on the cake.” “It’s an absolute privilege,” she said. “For me personally, these Games have just grown into the best it could have and the icing on the cake now is being given this opportunity.”
Woods, who initiated Australia’s gold rush with his victory in the moguls, found inspiration in his teammates’ performances. “Every day to watch them throw down or go their fastest and just represent the country the best they can,” he said. “It’s been super inspirational, I’ve loved watching everyone perform.”
The Impact of Olympic Success
Woods is now a well-known figure in Australian sports, a status he is still adjusting to. “It’s actually been really overwhelming,” he admitted. “I don’t even know what it’s like back at home. My family just got back. We’re from a small town, Merimbula, and I think my brother’s become a bit more famous.”
Scott emphasized the motivational impact of their achievements on the Australian winter sports teams. “When you’re watching one of your friends achieve such amazing things, it only motivates you and helps you to believe you can do it also,” she said. “The team out there today is just so excited to get back on that water ramp [in Brisbane] and to push their jumping forward now because they’ve seen what we can do.”
“The sky’s the limit. So for me, I’m happy to be a part of that and I kind of can’t wait to get back in,” Scott added.
Looking Ahead
As the Winter Olympics draw to a close, the closing ceremony will be held at the historic Arena di Verona on Monday morning AEDT. This 2,000-year-old Roman amphitheatre, which predates the Colosseum, has been a site of Australian sporting success before, notably when Jai Hindley won the 2022 Giro d’Italia.
Now, it will serve as the backdrop for the conclusion of a remarkable Winter Olympics for Australia, marking a new chapter in the nation’s sporting history. As Scott and Woods prepare to lead their team in the ceremony, they carry not just the flag, but the hopes and pride of a nation inspired by their achievements.
