Central Coast skier Matt Graham has claimed Australia’s first medal at the 2025 FIS Freestyle and Snowboard World Championships, winning bronze in the iconic Swiss resort town of St Moritz.
Graham now has five World Championship medals, more than any other Australian winter sports athlete.
He advanced through the early rounds with a 19-16 victory over Sweden’s Robin Olgaard in round 16, followed by a 23-12 win against Mateo Jeannesson of Great Britain in the quarter-finals.
In the first semi-final, Graham went head-to-head with Canadian skier Mikael Kingsbury.
Just before the bottom jump, Graham lost a ski at high speed, causing him to cartwheel down the course and sending Kingsbury to the big final and Graham himself to the small final and the opportunity for the bronze medal.
The small final saw Graham take on Sweden’s Filip Gravenfors , who had crashed heavily with Japan’s Ikuma Hiroshima in the second semi final.
Gravenfors pushed out of the start gate but could not continue due his semi-final injury.
Graham completed the course in a solo run to claim the bronze medal.
“It was probably one of the hardest earned podiums of my career,” Graham, 30, said.
“After a big crash last week in Livigno and not knowing if I would be able to compete … I was able to ski to the bronze medal.
“It’s a good way to cap off the season.
“It’s been long, lots of ups and downs.
“My third dual podium for the year is unreal, and also another Dad Podium.
“I hope both Ikuma and Filip are OK from their crashes.
“The course was challenging, it was icy at the start of the day, and consequently the top air landing and first five turns got trashed.
“On paper the course wasn’t that tricky but there were a few little technical elements to it.
“Heading into the small-final I didn’t know what state Filip was in.
“I was in a lot of pain myself and just wanted to get down the run and be in one piece, so I was just willing to ski my run and whatever happened, happened.
“I didn’t realise he was injured or sore.
“It wasn’t until I landed the top jump, and I couldn’t hear him or sense him that I knew I was in the clear.”
Graham did not realise until the finish line that his opponent had withdrawn.
“It was a little bittersweet given the circumstances, and I was in shock to be honest when I crossed the line, so I broke down a little and got a bit emotional,” he said.
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