Jakara Anthony has crashed out of the women's moguls super final at the 2026 Winter Olympics to finish in eighth place.
The defending champion had set the fastest time in Tuesday's qualifying and the first top-20 final on Wednesday.
But put under pressure from two colossal scores from Americans Elizabeth Lemley and Jaelin Kauf, Anthony put too much speed down through the middle section of the course and spun out.
Australian teammate Charlotte Wilson finished in sixth in her first Olympics.
"I'm bummed, obviously," Anthony said.
"I'm really proud of the skiing that I was able to do on the course. I think I was skiing and jumping at such a high level and skiing with good speed, and I think I really had what it took to take that top step [of the podium].
"I showed that in the first couple rounds, but I just didn't put it down on that last one when it counted.
"I've got to go back and watch the video and kind of work out [what happened].
"Actually, I've got to process it a bit first.
"I actually did my first run like that at the first World Cup this season in Ruka.
"[I] Flew out of the course for the first time in a World Cup, so [this is] not the first, probably won't be the last. it's just the nature of our sport."
With two Australians in the top-eight super final for the first time since the 2018 PyeongChang Games, hopes were high for Australian medal or medals in warm, sunny conditions at the Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park.
World Cup leader and overwhelming favourite Anthony had qualified with nothing but fresh air behind her from the first final, scoring a massive 83.96 to underline her status as favourite.
She had also led the field a day earlier, cruising into the finals day with consummate ease on Tuesday afternoon with a field-leading score of 81.65.
But even then it was Americans Lemley and Giaccio who gave Anthony the biggest test as the only other skiers to record scores above 80 in that first session.
Backed on both days by a massive crowd bolstered by huge numbers of yellow-clad, kangaroo-waving Australians, the mood was high and expectations even higher on Anthony.
But no Australian Winter Olympian has ever retained their title and it proved too much even for Australia's best skier as well.
Wilson, who needed the second qualifying session to reach the final, really showed her class in topping that session earlier in the morning with a big score of 77.79.
The 20-year-old was upset after messing up her run yesterday, telling media that she did "a lot of mental recovery", including some journalling and that there were a "lot of emotions" after her first ever Olympic run.
"I definitely could have crumbled under the pressure, but I learnt from it and made the changes that I did today and I'm grateful that I went that way," Wilson said after qualifying.
And she certainly learned plenty, soaring into the super final with a score of 78.38.
She could not quite repeat that in the super final, being awarded a 75.17 to finish sixth.
"It's pretty exciting, definitely not what I anticipated when I came out here this morning," said Wilson, who turns 21 on Friday.
"But yeah, [it] just got better and better.
"I just had my head in the right space [compared to yesterday] I was focusing more on the skiing then I guess the atmosphere and the outcome, and that really works for me and it paid off today.
"I learnt a lot which, I think, that was my whole goal for this Games as well, to just learn how to handle that pressure, experience all these different things, and I'm grateful that yesterday happened and I'm pretty happy about today."
That put her in provisional third place but she was soon deposed from the podium thanks to a stunning run from eventual winner Lemley, who powered to the top of the standings with a colossal 82.30 to put the remaining three athletes under pressure.
Jaelin Kauf impressed with 80.77 to claim second.
Then Anthony's spin stunned the Australian fans into shocked silence as the Americans celebrated wildly at their 1-2.
