Jakara Anthony misses podium after fumble in final
His score was 60.81, the lowest score of the final by some distance, and a devastating result for both him and Australia.
“Obviously I was pissed,” Anthony said. “I’m really proud of the skiing I was able to do on the piste. I was skiing and jumping at such a high level, I was skiing with good speed and I think I really had what it took to take that top step. I showed that in the first few laps but didn’t take it into account on the last lap.”
Jakara Anthony stumbled in the final.Credit: access point
“I’ll go back and watch the video and sort of handle it… instinctively you want to put an emperor’s foot out to take control, but you don’t want to do that. I think that’s what I did there, but I need to process it a bit first to actually go over it.”
Anthony said he experienced a similar incident during his first FIS World Cup run this season.
“It’s not the first time, and it probably won’t be the last,” he said. “It’s just the nature of our sport.”
Anthony insisted he was unaware of how the rest of the field was performing and was unimpressed by any information regarding Lemley’s performance. But he was more nervous than he normally felt.
Australian Charlotte Wilson finished sixth. Credit: access point
“I’d like to think everyone here is nervous,” he said. “It means you care about what you’re doing and you’re doing something pretty big. So nerves aside, I felt pretty good.”
It was clear to see the shock Anthony felt and was still processing, but he handled it with grace as his opponents celebrated around him. Another American, Jaelin Kauf, took the silver medal, while French Perrinne Laffont took the bronze medal.
Whoever controlled the music from the speakers had to have a sense of humor; Coldplay Long live La VidaAs he embraced his family and supporters, a song about the fall of a deposed ruler was playing.
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Before that there was Kelly Clarkson’s Stronger (What Won’t Kill You)and these words now represent Australia’s hopes for him.
The good news is that he doesn’t have to wait four years for redemption; There are only three days left until the double emperors return to the same facility for the first time at the Olympics.
“I definitely learned some things skiing today, but I’m still really happy with my process and how I came into this competition,” he said.
Australia’s happiest story was 20-year-old Charlotte Wilson, who was making her Olympic debut. He finished sixth and was thrilled with his performance but also felt bad for Anthony.
“As a team, we win together, we lose together,” Wilson said. “I hugged him and told him I was proud of him no matter what, and I think he understands that.”
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