Winter athletes put to the test during AIS camps in June

As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 continues, winter athletes were front and centre at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in June, joining more than 488 athletes and coaching staff on site for 16 high performance camps across 11 sports. 

The lack of snow in Canberra didn’t stop the Olympic Winter Institute of Sport and Snow Australia athletes from being put through their paces during a series of performance health evaluations and dry-land training sessions.

Cross country skiers took to roller-skis, mogul skiing champion Jakara Anthony worked with biomechanic experts, opens in a new tab at the indoor track, and bobsleigh duo Bree walker and Kiara Reddingius powered through gym sessions and testing. 

“Every year we come here to the AIS in Canberra and have a full day where we do our screening, we do bloods, physio testing, a DEXA scan and concussion testing. We all get it done in one hit before we all head off overseas,” Walker explained.  

“We don't have any bobsleigh training facilities here in Australia, so I'll be out on the track developing my speed, but then I'm also in the gym developing my strength and power.” 

Beyond winter sport, American Football Australia brought fresh energy to the pitch as the national flag football squad prepared for an upcoming tour in the USA, the Australian Wallaroos rugby team returned for their third training camp in two months ahead of their 50–22 victory over Manusina Samoa, and Basketball Australia’s Rollers were back on the court and trialling the new Para ice baths in the recovery centre.