Making sports history - Australia's first Indigenous Winter Olympic athlete

from Western Sydney to South Korea


Article heading image for Making sports history - Australia's first Indigenous Winter Olympic athlete

Australia loves an underdog story... and there is always a couple murmured around the Winter Olympics, an event we're not known for succeeding at. One such story to watch out for is the history making Harley Windsor who will become the first ever Australian Indigenous athlete to compete at the Winter Olympics. 

Harley, who is twenty-one, will compete as a figure skater in the Pyeongchang games in South Korea.  He began his skating journey in Rooty Hill, Western Sydney, after his mother took a wrong turn and ended up at Blackburn Ice Rink. Harley went inside and soon embraced skating as not just a hobby.

Harley has since grown and developed his skills under the watchful eyes of Russian and Australian coaches. Last year he and his partner won the Junior World Figure Skating Championships. He sites the biggest challenge is finding the appropriate partner to skate with - the right height difference (Windsor towers over his Russian partner), chemistry, and mix of personalities are all important.

Although Harley's team are hoping for a medal in South Korea he concedes realistically a place in the final would be more achievable.

Harley hopes he is the first of many Indigenous to take to the ice and represent their country in a Winter Olympics!

All the best Harley!

6 February 2018




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