Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Cooper Woods has declared he’s hungry for more gold as Australia’s Olympic moguls champion prepares to line up for another chance at glory.
Woods became Australia’s most unlikely Winter Games gold medallist when he charged to victory in Livigno despite having never won a World Cup event.
At the Milan-Cortina Games, moguls skiers get two opportunities to medal with the dual event added to the Olympic program.
It gives the Australian team a chance to add to their haul of three, which includes gold to Woods and also snowboard cross sensation Josie Baff, after snowboard great Scotty James picked up silver in the men’s halfpipe.
In duals, skiers race side by side down the course with the loser eliminated and the winner advancing. The women are in action on Saturday night (AEDT) while the men will compete 24 hours later.
“I’ve had a taste with one gold and I want to have another,” Woods told AAP.
“I’m feeling psyched and so excited – I had a really good training session and am feeling really sharp and good on my skis.”
Still trying to soak in his shock achievement, the 25-year-old said after media commitments, a small celebration and just the “buzz” of his win, he had only three hours sleep.
And he kept his medal close.
“I had it next to me in bed and woke up a couple of times just to check it was still there and it wasn’t a dream,” he said.
There was little time to relax before heading back out on the slopes to train, the only difference this time he was greeted by American coaches with “good morning champ”.
Two skiers in the men’s field of 32 are seeded through to the second round, but due to his World Cup form Woods is ranked third despite winning gold.
Bronze medallist Akuma Horishima from Japan and Canada’s Julian Viel, who finished sixth in the super final, will skip the opening round.
Woods is yet to find out who he will ski against first-up but believes he could be on a collision course with Australian teammate Matt Graham in the second round.
PyeongChang silver medallist Graham finished fifth in the regular event in Italy and last year courageously won bronze in the duals at the world championships in Switzerland after a major crash in the semi-finals.
Woods is looking at the positives.
“At least whoever wins is a medal shot,” he said, with the victor advancing to the final four.
In the women’s event, Charlotte Wilson and Emma Bosco meet in an all-Aussie clash in the round of 16.
