Rosie Fordham leads the way in a race 'everybody comes out for'

Rosie Fordham, at 24, is already Australia's most accomplished cross-country skier, recently winning the Kangaroo Hoppet. She exudes an infectious energy, describing even routine preparations with enthusiasm. Fordham's achievements are remarkable in a sport known for its extreme physical demands, requiring immense strength, endurance, and self-motivation in harsh, sub-zero conditions.

Last year, Fordham made history by becoming the first Australian to win a medal at an international cross-country skiing event, securing silver in a 10-kilometer race at the FIS U23 World Ski Championships. She has since consistently placed in the top 20 in the competitive FIS World Cup and achieved Australia's highest-ever Winter Olympics finish, coming 29th in the 50km mass start event.

"It's awesome to be a part of it," Fordham told ABC Sport. "I think in previous years, or even when I started skiing … you just never really heard about cross-country skiing when I was a junior. We were definitely kind of left out of a lot of the coverage." She believes that strong results are helping to elevate the sport's profile in Australia.

Snow Australia president Daniel Bosco expressed pride in the achievements of Australian skiers, including Fordham. While acknowledging the success of other Australian athletes in disciplines like freestyle skiing and snowboarding at the 2026 Winter Olympics, Bosco emphasized that top-30 finishes in demanding sports like cross-country skiing deserve significant recognition. The growing success of athletes like Fordham is contributing to increased interest and participation in traditional winter sports.

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It's awesome to be a part of it. I think in previous years, or even when I started skiing … you just never really heard about cross-country skiing when I was a junior. We were definitely kind of left out of a lot of the coverage.