Begg-Smith becomes our most successful Winter Olympian
The Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, congratulated freestyle skier Dale Begg-Smith on winning Australia’s first medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
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15 February 2010
The Minister for Sport, Kate Ellis, today congratulated freestyle skier Dale Begg-Smith on winning Australia’s first medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.
Dale Begg-Smith took out the silver medal in the men’s moguls, with a tight battle seeing Canada’s Alexandre Bilodeau scraping in by 0.17 of a point.
“It’s a double celebration for Dale today. By adding this silver to his gold in the same event in 2006, he becomes Australia’s most successful Winter Olympian,” Ms Ellis said.
“Dale’s achievement is all the more amazing considering his Olympic campaign was threatened when he suffered a serious knee injury at a World Cup event last year.
“Dale Begg-Smith hails from the Australian Institute of Sport and we today thank that great sporting institution for its investment in the nation’s latest Olympic star.”
The Australian Government is helping our winter athletes reach their goals through the Australian Sports Commission. $7.6 million has been provided since 2006-07 to support sports on the Winter Games 2010 program.
This funding has helped 21 Australian Institute of Sport athletes gain a place in the Australian Winter Olympic Team. This represents more than half the team.
Dale Begg-Smith’s silver medal is the seventh medal won by Australia in Winter Olympic history and marks the fifth successive Olympic Games in which Australia has won a medal.
In defeating Begg-Smith to win gold, Canadian Alexandre Bilodeau broke the drought for the host nation by becoming the first gold medallist on home soil in either summer or winter Olympic Games.
For more information, please contact the Minister's office on (02) 6277 7350
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