Rosie Fordham repeats Kangaroo Hoppet win and eyes World Cup and Olympic goals

Rosie Fordham, the leading Australian cross-country skier, won the women's Kangaroo Hoppet for the second year running, beating Olympian Maddie Hooker and biathlete Isabella Moon. The 32nd edition of the race, held on the third Saturday in August, saw 730 skiers compete in three distance events despite challenging snow conditions. Fordham praised the enthusiastic Australian crowd that supports the sport, noting how athletes are now recognized as serious contenders.

She recalled her own path to the sport through the interschools program and now prepares for a full-time season in Europe, training with the British squad ahead of the World Cup circuit and the World Championships in Falun. Her long-term ambition remains Olympic participation, with an eye on future Games, including a possible appearance in Utah in 2034. Fordham emphasized that while she holds the highest Australian finishes to date, she intends to surpass those results in the coming years.