Daisy Thomas is a freestyle skier who was awarded a Tier 1 Scholarship within the 2025 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship & Mentoring Program. She was paired with pioneer of women’s football and former Matilda, Cheryl Salisbury, as her Mentor.
Daisy was born in 2007 in Sydney and discovered her passion for skiing at the age of three. Encouraged by supportive parents, she began with alpine racing at Perisher Winter Sports Club, later transitioning to moguls. In 2019, inspired by her brother, Daisy found her true calling in park and pipe freestyle skiing.
Daisy’s competitive journey began in earnest in 2021, securing 2nd place in the Australia New Zealand Cup. Her first international season in 2022 saw her clinch 2nd in the World Rookie Tour Freeski Finals and receive a NSW Institute of Sport Scholarship. 2023 marked a breakthrough year for Daisy. She won the World Rookie Tour Freeski Finals in Italy and achieved her first podium at a European Cup Premium Event in St Moritz, Switzerland. At the Swatch Nines Ski Event, she became the first Australian female skier to land a Double Cork 1080. This achievement propelled her to a 7th place finish in her World Cup debut at Copper Mountain, USA.
Daisy’s career highlight came at the 2024 Youth Winter Olympic Games in Gangwon, South Korea, where she earned a Silver medal in Big Air with a Double Cork 1080 and a Switch Bio 900. Currently balancing her skiing career with her International Baccalaureate studies, Daisy plans to complete Year 12 in November 2024. Her immediate goals include competing in the 2024/25 World Cup Season to qualify for the 2025 World Freeski Championships and the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.
Looking beyond her athletic career, Daisy aspires to pursue an Arts/Law Degree, aiming to become a barrister specialising in International Ethical and Environmental concerns.
“I’m deeply honoured to be recognised by SAHOF as a promising freestyle skier with world-class potential. This scholarship is invaluable, providing crucial resources for my transition into professional skiing. The one-on-one mentorship with Cheryl is particularly exciting because I am sure she will be able to offer guidance as I balance my post-Year 12 skiing career with the mental and emotional aspects of high-performance sport. This support is instrumental as I set my sights on qualifying for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games.” – Daisy Thomas on being selected as a 2025 Tier Scholarship Holder.
Honours & Achievements
- 2024: 2nd Youth Winter Olympic Games – Big Air
- 2024: 5th Youth Winter Olympic Games – Slopestyle
- 2023: 7th Copper Mountain World Cup – Big Air
- 2023: 3rd St Moritz European Cup Premium – Big Air
- 2022: 1st Australia New Zealand Cup – Big Air
Social Links | Instagram: daisyy.thomas
Bio picture credit: IOC
