Australian Olympic legend Alisa Camplin-Warner has been named as Australia’s first woman chef de mission for a Winter Games ahead of the Milan-Cortina Games in 2026.

Former aerials skier Camplin-Warner was the first Australian woman to win Winter Olympic gold in Salt Lake City in 2002.

“I am deeply grateful for this opportunity and thrilled to be working with all our winter sports, coaches and athletes,” Camplin-Warner, who also won a bronze medal the last time the Games were held in Italy, in Turin in 2006, said.

“Collectively we’ve built and strong and proud winter history in Australia, and we look forward to enhancing this legacy together.”

Australia won four medals at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics — led by previous chef de mission Geoff Lipshut — the most successful ever in terms of the number of medals won.

Jakara Anthony became Australia’s sixth Winter Olympic gold medallist in the moguls, with Scotty James (snowboard half pipe) and Jaclyn Narracott (skeleton) winning silvers and Tess Cody (snowboard slopestyle) claiming bronze.

Camplin-Warner was deputy chef de mission in Beijing, was the performance manager of the team in PyeongChang in 2018, and has been chef de mission at the Youth Olympic Games in 2012.

“Alisa is one of Australia’s sporting greats who has continued to make an outstanding contribution to Australian sport since her retirement as an athlete,” AOC president Ian Chesterman said.

“She has been part of the leadership team at the past two Winter Games with Beijing 2022 proving to be the high mark for Australian winter sport.

“Alisa understands high performance and she understands how to create a positive team culture. 

“Most importantly she cares deeply about our athletes and the challenges they face to get to an Olympic Games and compete at the highest level.”

The Milan-Cortina Games will be held in northern Italy from February 6-22,  2026.

The appointment follows Australia’s hugely successful Olympic Games in Paris, under the impressive stewardship of Anna Meares.

“Our athletes have made huge sacrifices and invested so much of their lives to represent their country. I want to honour everything they committed – physically, mentally and emotionally – to give each athlete the best Olympic performance opportunity possible,” Camplin-Warner said.

“Ultimately, it’s about creating an environment that allows everyone to deliver their full potential and feel part of a wonderful Australian team. 

“The Milano-Cortina Games will see a wide spread of venues that will certainly stretch us, but we will be ready for the challenges.”

Australia’s winter sports athletes are going from strength-to-strength after a historic 2023/24 season in which athletes won 50 World Cup medals (18 gold, 16 silver, 16 bronze).

The previous high-mark was 35 medals set during the 2016/17 season.

Anthony won the most ever wins in a season for a mogul skier, claiming gold in 14 of the 16 events, winning the Crystal Globe for World Cup Champion in moguls, dual moguls and overall.

Aerial skier Danielle Scott claimed her second Crystal Globe in as many seasons, upholding Australia’s sensational record in aerial skiing.

Additionally, snowboard prodigy Val Guseli secured the overall park and pipe Crystal Globe.

On the ice, Bree Walker recorded Australia’s first bobsleigh World Cup gold medal, and speed skater Brendan Corey became the first Australian to win a World Championship medal since 1994 with a bronze in the 1,500m.