Australian Teen Snowboarder Ally Hickman Reaches Olympic Final & Inspires School

LIVIGNO, Italy – Sixteen-year-old Ally Hickman of Australia is one step closer to an Olympic medal, securing her place in the final of the women’s snowboard slopestyle competition at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy. The qualification round, brought forward a day due to an approaching blizzard, saw Hickman navigate challenging, windy conditions to finish sixth overall.

While seasoned competitors like Beijing bronze medalist Tess Coady struggled to find their rhythm – Coady failed to qualify for the final – Hickman remained composed, delivering a clean opening run that scored 71.41. That score held through her second attempt, proving sufficient to land her among the top twelve riders who will compete for a podium finish on Tuesday.

The achievement has already sparked a wave of excitement back home in Sydney, where Hickman attends St Clare’s College. The school has transformed into a vibrant display of support, adorned with cardboard cutouts of the young Olympian and banners proclaiming her name. Her classmates, Gabby Rowley, Zara Tobin, Evangeline Piromalli, and Millie Scurry, have been keeping in close contact via text and FaceTime, eagerly following her progress from thousands of kilometers away.

“It doesn’t feel real,” said Evangeline Piromalli. “I think we’ve only all just clocked that she’s actually there.”

Millie Scurry reflected on Hickman’s natural talent, recalling childhood memories of hearing about her snowboarding trips. “I remember when we were little I’d go to her house and hear that she’s going to the snow,” she said. “I wouldn’t have thought then that she’d be here, it’s crazy to see how far she’s come from such a young age.”

Gabby Rowley added, “She’s trained so much for it and she’s accomplished a lot,” while Zara Tobin expressed her awe at seeing Hickman compete on the world stage: “Just like wow, seeing her on the big TV with all the people from around the world, it’s pretty amazing.”

Hickman’s journey to the Olympics hasn’t been without sacrifice. She hasn’t been in a traditional classroom setting since the start of term 4, dedicating herself to intensive pre-Olympic training, including a stint in Whistler, Canada. Despite the demanding schedule, those who know her best emphasize her humility and grounded nature.

Louise Armstrong, Ally’s teacher and house leader at St Clare’s, described her as “such a quiet year 7” who always possessed immense potential. “She is still so humble now and when she returns to school, she just comes back and is straight in,” Armstrong said.

The school community has rallied around Hickman, recognizing the financial burden often associated with Olympic participation. A mufti day on Friday, where students traded their uniforms for green and gold attire, and a fundraising event on Monday, replaying her qualifying run with treats and drinks for sale, are testament to their support.

“St Clare’s college is proud of all of our students, but particularly of Ally’s achievements,” said school principal Ann Freeman. “We wish her all the best.”

In the qualifying round, Hickman’s opening run proved crucial. She described her strategy as “keeping it safe” and simply laying down a score. However, she’s already looking ahead to the final, aiming to elevate her performance. “For the finals, I want to land my best run – the run that I’ve been dreaming about for a while now,” she stated.

Fellow Australians Mela Stalker and Tess Coady finished 22nd and 27th respectively, with scores of 47.36, and 38.95. Stalker, acknowledging her own struggles on the course, opted to change her run the night before the competition, a decision she found enjoyable despite not resulting in qualification.

The women’s snowboard slopestyle final is scheduled for Tuesday night at 11:00 PM AEDT. As Sydney sleeps, Hickman’s classmates and teachers will be wide awake, cheering on their hometown hero, already a legend in their eyes, regardless of the final result.