Image: Image courtesy Paralympics Australia.
Members of Australia’s Paralympic Winter Team have been welcomed home from the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 with an emotional reception at Sydney International Airport.
Pictures show athletes and team officials arriving through the international arrivals gate at Sydney Airport to be greeted by friends and family and fans. The athletes were also greeted by Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of Australia
Paralympian Ben Tudhope, who claimed silver and bronze medals in Para snowboard during the games led the athletes out the gate.
“To see this – to come out and be greeted by family, friends, and even my babysitter from when I was three years old – it really is incredible,” Tudhope told Paralympics Australia.
“My heartbeat is still going! I was probably more nervous coming out here than in the actual races. The support from home has been amazing, and to have the Governor General’s backing makes it even more special,” he added.
Tudhope was joined by Para Nordic athletes Dave Miln, Taryn Dickens and guide Lyn Cullen, and Matt Brumby, whose performances across Para biathlon and cross-country skiing contributed to a strong overall team showing. However their service dogs potentially got more attention.
Three dogs that travelled halfway across the world to support Australia’s para-Nordic team at the Milan-Cortina Games, including Matt Brumby’s Willow, Dave Miln’s Suki, and Taryn Dickens’ Gigi. The dogs were so popular, they even went viral.
The dogs are the first service animals to attend the Paralympic Games since Sydney 2000.
“The dogs are definitely a highlight,” said Brumby to AAP, who is an Integra Service Dogs ambassador.
“Everybody wants to say hello to a dog, and it calms people down.”
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Australia concluded the Milano Cortina campaign with several top-10 finishes, including two medals.Led by co-flag bearers Ben Tudhope and Georgia Gunew, the 14-strong Australian team secured a silver medal, a bronze medal and 10 top 10 finishes, maintaining the nation’s proud record of winning a medal at every Winter Paralympics since 1992.
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