Pambula lad Cooper Woods has won gold in Milano-Cortina. Photo: @cooper_woodss/Instagram.
When Cooper Woods stood atop the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics overnight, it wasn’t just a victory for Australia – it was a triumph for a town that watched the son of two national skiers turn family legacy into achievement.
On Thursday in Milano‑Cortina, the 25‑year‑old completed a near‑perfect final run in the men’s moguls, tying Canadian legend Mikaël Kingsbury on points and edging him out on turn scores to claim the top spot, claiming Australia’s first Winter Olympics gold medal.
In Merimbula and Pambula Beach, Woods’ rise felt both extraordinary and inevitable, given the family and community roots behind it.
Hailing from a town where waves are more common than moguls, he was surrounded by family connections that stretch deep into Australia’s winter sports history.
Cooma born but South Coast raised, Woods virtually had snow running through his veins with parents Katrina Woods and Matt Topalovic both former Australian aerial skiers.
His uncle, Peter “Toppa” Topalovic, became a renowned coach at Perisher, where a moguls run – Toppos Run – at Blue Cow carries his name.
Recognised as a premier training ground for Australian and international mogul teams, it was there Cooper first mastered the technical skills and discipline that would eventually propel him to the Olympic podium.
The family’s roots in the region extended beyond the slopes.
For years, the Woods‑Topalovic family operated a local eatery in Pambula, a hub where locals and visitors mingled and where young Cooper learned, not just how to flip burgers, but the value of community.
He has always maintained that without community, he would never have achieved his dream of competing at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games. Nor have faith to continue his journey onto Milano-Cortina in 2026.
In a 2023 interview, following Beijing where he fell just short of a medal finishing sixth in the men’s mogul final at his first games he said, “For me, the Olympics are about representing my community”.
“Even though moguls is an individual sport, I always feel the support from my community back home, and I feel like I need to do well for everyone.
“There are not a lot of elite athletes that come out of our area; it is exciting to represent my home and show everyone all the time and the sacrifices I’ve made by being away doing my sport, is worth it.
“I want to show people it is possible to achieve at a high level.”
Even before Olympic ambitions, Woods had already demonstrated courage off the slopes.
At age 12, Woods was awarded a Child of Courage Medal after a friend fell from a waterfall and was rendered unconscious. He immediately jumped in to rescue her, saving her life.
Woods’ connection to his local schools has also remained strong throughout his career.
He was named Pambula Public School’s Sportsperson of the Year in 2012, and he later attended Lumen Christi Catholic College, where he continues to visit regularly to speak to students about dedication, resilience and pursuing dreams.
Pambula Public School took to Facebook to celebrate his latest achievement, sharing pride in a former student who now represents Australia on the world stage.
Lumen Christi Catholic College has also posted messages of congratulations, noting his achievement as an inspiration to current pupils.
As Woods’ performance at Milano-Cortina unfolded, The Top Pub in Pambula became the town’s focal point, with the seaside hotel turning into a sea of green and gold tracking every moment of the competition.
Following a live cross, Cooper reflected on the early setback he faced at the Games after a tough first qualifying round, where he failed to make the top 10, saying that seeing that support from his community helped restore his sense of purpose.
And in an interview following his medal win, Woods said it was as much a reflection of the sacrifices as it was of the win – “the highs, the lows, the injuries and the setbacks, the time being away from family and friends and home … it’s all sacrificed for this little thing”.
And he was quick to shift the spotlight from himself to the people who helped him get there.
“I’ve said it a few times today, but this medal’s not only for me,” he told reporters. “It’s for everyone else who’s been part of the journey, those that have helped me achieve this massive milestone in my career.
“It’s been a crazy journey and I can’t believe we’re here.”
