Scotty James has one more thing to add to the poolroom.
Among his most prized possessions in the ‘GOAT room’ is a signed Kobe bryant jersey from his rookie NBA year with the LA Lakers, an autographed helmet from Australian F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, a football boot from Essendon AFL great Dustin Fletcher and a boxing glove from Mexican pugilist, Canelo alvarez.
There’s also the Winter Olympic bronze James won in the half pipe at PyeongChang in 2018 and the silver from Beijing in 2022.
Scotty James opens up about doubts as he eyes a fifth Winter Olympics
It’s vital to talk about those doubts, says James, as they’re normal, especially after a career that’s expanded almost two decades.
James made his international debut as a 14-year-old at the 2008 Europa Cup in Switzerland. He made the Australian Olympic team for the first time at the 2010 Games in Vancouver after Nathan Johnstone was ruled out injured.James has been a staple of the team since.
He was the flag bearer at the 2018 Games in PyeongChang, where he won bronze, and he was on track to win gold in Beijing before Japan’s Ayumu Hirano snatched the lead with an unbelievable final run.
Scotty James carrying the Australian flag during the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in pyeongchang.
Scotty James Eyes Olympic Gold,Driven by Family and Evolving Motivation
Australian snowboarder Scotty James is aiming for olympic gold at the upcoming Winter Games,entering the competition ranked world No.4 in the half-pipe discipline. After a decade of success, including world championship titles in 2015 and 2025, James reflects on his enduring motivation and refined approach to competition.
James, who recently became a father, says his drive has shifted over the years. “My motivation has always changed,” he explained. “One year winning was everything I thought about, and the othre years, I didn’t put it]as much on a pedestal. So I had to find other ways to get motivated. I became a dad recently, so that’s been a really awesome motivator for me to now want to win, but do it with a family at my side.” [https://wwwsmhcomau/sport/winter-olympics/snowboarder-scotty-james-eyes-olympic-gold-driven-by-family-and-evolving-motivation-20240129-p5h09whtml
He acknowledges the challenge of maintaining peak performance over a long career. “There’s something about it that keeps drawing you back.And for me, it’s always been [about] being open-minded about why am I here? What am I doing it for? What’s my purpose in the half pipe?” James stated. He recognizes the mental fortitude required, noting, “That ability to find that want to continue to do those things that you don’t necessarily want to do, is hard.”
James emphasizes the importance of adapting his approach. “If I tried to continue to want to be the best from the day I started 10 years ago, I’d just run myself into the ground as I don’t operate the same. So I’ve always been open-minded about how I can evolve to keep that level of intensity.”
Heading into the Olympics, which begin on February 6th, James feels more prepared than ever. “I think I’m just more grounded than in previous years]. I think I have a lot of perspective. I have obviously learnt a lot from my experience in the past. If I’ve made mistakes, I’m not making those again,” he said. He describes his preparation as extensive, covering snowboarding technique, mental conditioning, physical fitness, and his personal life. [https://wwwsmhcomau/sport/winter-olympics/snowboarder-scotty-james-eyes-olympic-gold-driven-by-family-and-evolving-motivation-20240129-p5h09whtml
The Winter Olympic Games will be broadcast on the 9Network, 9Now, and Stan Sport.