Source : ABC NEWS
The Australian aerials team celebrated as one as Danielle Scott ended a 12-year medal drought with a sensational silver on Wednesday afternoon.
The entire day was a tremendous achievement for the Australian team.
As well as Scott’s silver, Abbey Willcox earned herself a spot in the final, finishing 10th in her long-awaited, injury-delayed Olympic appearance.
Airleigh Frigo and Sidney Stephens also made their Olympic debuts. Stephens, on incredibly short notice, came 15th, and Frigo finished 22nd.
Stephens was only given a handful of days’ notice that she would be required after Laura Peel succumbed to the reality that she would not be able to compete after suffering a blown ACL just days before the opening ceremony.
Peel is a veteran of three Olympic Games and the reigning FIS World Cup crystal globe champion after a stunning 2024/25 season.
A two-time world champion, she has never managed to take the leap to win an Olympic medal, finishing a heartbreaking fifth in 2022.
Stephens, a former gymnast from Western Australia, didn’t even have time to get her parents out to Italy to see her Olympic debut so last-minute was her call-up, saying she packed her bag and was on route to Livigno within an hour of being told.
And even though she and the rest of the team were very aware of Peel’s injury, they had all hoped the team veteran would still be able to compete.
“I think at that point it wasn’t really like something we were considering,” Stephens said.
“I think we were all really pushing for Laura to be back here.
Sidney Stephens had a superb start to her Olympic career. (Supplied: AOC/Chris Hocking)
“It [preparing to come to Livigno] just wasn’t really something that was a priority at the time.”
Stephens acknowledged that stepping into Peel’s shoes was “really difficult” and not the way she wanted to make her bow.
“I think there’s been a lot of up and down emotions,” Stephens said.
“Obviously, everyone wanted to see Laura up here today … Laura’s obviously one of the best jumpers out there, but probably even more so, an amazing human.
“She’s been a great teammate and great leader for all of us.”
Stephens was given a heroes exit when she left her teammates for the Games, her fellow squad members giving her a guard of honour as she graduated into an Olympian.
Yet as “beautiful” as that moment was, the 23-year-old said it was still difficult.
“I didn’t know they were going to come out and do that. It felt really special,” Stephens said.
“[The phone call to tell her] was crazy … but also pretty bittersweet, just knowing that it was going to be me and not Laura.
“But I’m very, very grateful for the opportunity.”
Danielle Scott won Australia’s first aerials medal in 12 years. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
Scott said she “absolutely” felt the weight of Peel’s absence on her to act as the leader of the team.
“Laura’s been such a fierce competitor, and then it felt like all the weight was on my shoulders,” she said.
“It’s heartbreaking to have seen her go through that
“I had to try and focus on myself and not let it get to me, which was really tough because I’m heartbroken for her.”
Peel was in Livigno, supporting the team the best she could.
However, another Olympic debutant, Willcox, has endured such devastating injury hardship herself, missing the Beijing Olympics in part due to the effects of a badly broken leg that kept her out of competition for a long period of time.
Willcox, another former gymnast, started competing in aerials in 2015 but struggled when transitioning to doubles and was cut from the team in 2018.
Abbey Willcox has had bad luck with injuries in the past. (Supplied: AOC/Chris Hocking)
She moved to Switzerland to fight for her spot and returned to the squad, only for that badly broken leg to hamper her progression.
In an attempt to make the 2022 Olympic team, Willcox moved overseas for nine months, only to just miss out.
“It’s a relief to finally be at the Olympic Games,” the 29-year-old said.
“And competing where I know that I should have been competing a while ago.”
Willcox didn’t just compete, but finished 10th, one of her best performances of the season.
But she left her mark in an even bigger way with a lovely tribute to her friend, Peel, written on the inside of her glove.
“I mean, she’s such a special person in our team,” Willcox said of her tribute.
“I’m just so sad that she’s not out here jumping with us.
“There’s not much I can do about her ACL, but just show some support.
“She’s just such a great person, she’s just a great human.
“A great teammate, great human.”
