Sydney School Community Rallies Behind Teen Snowboarder at Winter Olympics
As 16-year-old Australian snowboarder Ally Hickman prepares to compete in the women's slopestyle final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy, her school community at St Clare's College in Sydney is demonstrating overwhelming support for the young athlete.
From Classroom to Olympic Slopes
Ally Hickman, who hasn't attended regular classes since the beginning of term 4 due to intensive pre-Olympic training in locations including Whistler, Canada, has become something of a legend at her Sydney high school. The teenager secured her spot in Tuesday's final with a strong qualifying performance that saw her finish sixth in the heats with a score of 71.41, comfortably placing her among the top 12 competitors.
"She was such a quiet year 7 and still had all the potential to be this amazing Olympian," said Ally's teacher and house leader, Louise Armstrong. "She is still so humble now and when she returns to school, she just comes back and is straight in."
School Transforms into Green and Gold Support Zone
The St Clare's campus has transformed into a sea of Australian colors in support of their Olympic representative. Massive cardboard cutouts of Ally's face adorn the school walls, while giant yellow letters spell out her name throughout the campus. On Friday, students participated in a mufti day, trading their traditional uniforms for green and gold outfits to show their support.
On Monday, the school community gathered in the quad to watch a replay of Ally's Sunday Olympic run on a large screen, with treats and drinks sold to raise funds for her competition expenses. The financial burden of Olympic competition can be significant for athletes, and the school has turned their excitement into tangible support for their classmate.
Friends Keep Connection Across Continents
Despite the geographical distance, Ally's close friends - Gabby Rowley, Zara Tobin, Evangeline Piromalli and Millie Scurry - have maintained their connection through text messages and FaceTime calls. The group last saw Ally for her birthday in late December and noted that the teenage athlete typically spends only two terms at school each year due to her training commitments.
"It doesn't feel real," Evangeline said about Ally's Olympic achievement. "I think we've only all just clocked that she's actually there."
Millie reflected on Ally's journey, saying, "I remember when we were little I'd go to her house and hear that she's going to the snow. I wouldn't have thought then that she'd be here, it's crazy to see how far she's come from such a young age."
Calm Under Pressure
Despite the high stakes of Olympic competition, Ally's friends report that she remains remarkably composed. "She's trained so much for it and she's accomplished a lot," Gabby noted, while Zara expressed amazement at "seeing her on the big TV with all the people from around the world."
Ally herself told her friends, "I'm not nervous, I'm just excited" about competing in the Olympic finals. After qualifying, she expressed her happiness with the achievement, saying, "I'm so happy, it was such an amazing event. First run, I was just trying to keep it safe, just laying a score on the board. For the finals, I want to land my best run - the run that I've been dreaming about for a while now."
Olympic Performance and School Pride
In the slopestyle qualification event, Ally navigated a challenging course where riders are judged on their handling of various features including rails and jumps. Her opening run score of 71.41 held firm even as wind conditions intensified during the second run, challenging more seasoned athletes. She finished ahead of fellow Australians Mela Stalker and Tess Coady, who placed 22nd and 27th respectively.
School principal Ann Freeman expressed the institution's pride, stating, "St Clare's college is proud of all of our students, but particularly of Ally's achievements. We wish her all the best."
On Tuesday night at 11pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time, while most of Sydney prepares for sleep, Ally's classmates will be eagerly watching her compete in the Olympic finals. Regardless of the final scoreboard results, to the students and staff at St Clare's College, Ally Hickman has already achieved something extraordinary.
