00:04Well, it was friends, families, a giant anthropomorphic kangaroo and the Governor-General who were
00:10here to welcome five of our Winter Para-Olympians returning home to Australia after another
00:17Bumper Games in which the country walked away with two medals, more importantly, keeping
00:23the streak alive since 1992. Australia has won at least one medal at every Winter Olympics.
00:31We had the chance to speak to Ben Tudhope this morning. He walked away with two medals, the
00:36entirety of Australia's haul. He told us that it was an incredible honour, but more importantly,
00:43we had a chance to speak to his old babysitter. She gave us a unique insight into what it takes
00:49to raise a Para-Olympian. The cutest, happiest little boy. I do like to tell a story though
00:55that I went on a skiing holiday with the Tudhopes once and struggled to get him to ski school.
01:02He cried the whole way. I wasn't a very strong skier or very familiar with the winter vibe
01:07and I was there with all his gear trying to get him there and so I have a big chuckle
01:11when
01:11I see him up on the podium after all this time. The Para-Snowboarder took home our entire
01:17medal haul, winning silver in the men's snowboard cross and then bronze in the men's banked slalom.
01:23He has now won the previous three medals by an Australian at the Winter Paralympic Games,
01:28dating back to claiming Australia's only medal at the 2022 Beijing Games. He overcame a dislocated
01:35shoulder to compete this year, now a four-time Para-Olympian and opening ceremony flag bearer.
01:41The Governor-General, the Honourable Sam Mostyn, was here to welcome the athletes as they returned
01:47home this morning. She says she's not only incredibly proud of their showing, but also
01:53the underdog status that Australia has at the Winter Olympic Games, given that we're a country
01:58that has never really been known for its prowess in the snow.
02:02Ben, of course, as a flag bearer, dual medalist, led a team that has had one of the best results
02:08ever. I just think it's really important that we're here to say thank you and congratulate
02:11them and, you know, it's a tough life for Paralympians and they've been on the road a
02:16long time, so I'm just really delighted to be here to welcome them home.
02:19And while it was Ben walking away with that silver and bronze, the Australian team putting in an
02:25incredible performance, 10 top 10 finishes, as well as a record number of female Para-athletes.
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