Tayla Purves, Coast Community News

Narara local Matt Graham may have missed out on a medal in the men’s mogul final 1 and super final at the Winter Olympics, but he has redeemed himself on the Livigno mogul course.

Landing on the podium, he was the missing piece to what each of the athletes called ‘the dad podium’ – all podium sitters were recent new fathers.

“At the end of the day, I knew what was at stake that last run because Mik (Canadian gold medallist Mikael Kingsbury) and Ikuma (Horishima) had already locked in their podium spots and, me being the third dad, I needed to execute to make sure we could fulfil that dream of a dad podium,” Graham said.

It has been rumoured that Milan-Cortina will likely be the 31-year-old’s last Olympics, but after winning bronze, a potential comeback at 35 is on the cards when the games make their way to the French Alps in 2030.

“We’ll see; I don’t know what the future holds for me just yet,” Graham said.

“I’m very happy to be here and to have the family here is very special.”

Coast Community News spoke to his father, Steve Graham, following the event.

“Just to see what he did with Cooper in the finish area is a testimony to his character,” Steve Graham said.

“I’m sure he would have inspired everybody … well, he tends to do (that).

“He’s a bit of a pied piper, so people gravitate to him.”

Wife Jess and daughter Ada watched on with the rest of Graham’s family, uplifting the Central Coast Grammar graduate as he continued to give the sport his all.

He is now second in the World Cup standings, with his focus turning to the Crystal Globe, though as a new father his plans remain uncertain.

“I have a family to worry about now, but obviously we’re still at the top of the game,” he said.

“I’m happy to push myself.”

In further Olympics news, Abbey Willcox of Somersby will compete this week in the women’s freestyle aerial skiing.

This article appeared in Coast Community News, 19 February 2026.