Southern Sports Academy (SSA) is incredibly proud to recognise two athletes with academy connections who represented Australia at the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games in Milano-Cortina.
Liana France (pictured), who was part of the SSA program last year, made history as Australia’s youngest female Winter Paralympian at just 16 years of age. Competing in para-alpine skiing, she delivered an impressive debut, finishing 14th in the Giant Slalom and 15th in the Slalom against the world’s best.
Also representing Australia was former SSA athlete Josh Hanlon, who competed in para-alpine sit skiing across multiple events. The 2026 Games marked Hanlon’s second Paralympics, where he placed 9th in Slalom, 10th in Giant Slalom and 16th in Alpine Combined, after previously competing at the 2022 Winter Paralympics in Beijing.
SSA also celebrates the achievements of athletes across the Regional Academies of Sport network.
Hunter Academy of Sport athlete Lauren Parker delivered a strong performance at the Winter Paralympics, placing 10th in the Para Biathlon and making history as the first Australian Paralympian to be flag bearer at both the Summer and Winter Paralympics.
Central Coast Academy of Sport athletes Matthew Graham and Abbey Willcox also impressed at the Winter Olympics, with Graham securing a bronze medal in the Dual Moguls and Willcox reaching the finals in the Women’s Aerials and contributing to a fourth-place finish in the Mixed Team Aerials.
Having multiple athletes with connections to the academy competing on the world stage is something the entire SSA community can be incredibly proud of. Their achievements highlight the strength of regional pathways and serve as inspiration for the next generation of athletes coming through the program.
