When Year 11 student John Mordes lined up to represent Australia at his first Olympic-level skiing event, it is fair to say he found the experience a little overwhelming. “I got chills standing at the start line and almost started tearing up,” John says. “It was quite surreal seeing the Olympic rings everywhere and then looking over at my family in the stands.”
But the immensity of the moment didn’t impede John’s success. He placed within the top 60 junior skiers in the world in three events – the 10km classic distance event, the Nordic Cross freestyle event and the freestyle sprint – at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games.
John is currently ranked number two in Australia based on his performance in the 2019 Australian Winter season. His achievements are the result of many years’ hard work, with his first skiing experience dating back to his days at Grimwade House. “I put on my first pair of cross country skis in Year 4,” he says. “Nick Montgomery (OM 2011), who was part of the Australian ski team at the time, took me out on my first cross country ski trip.”
“Originally I loved downhill skiing – just trying to go as fast as I could to beat my younger brother,” John explains. “But these days I’d call myself more of an endurance athlete. In cross country skiing I feel like I leave everything out on the track in every race. Working myself to the max and feeling a sense of reward at the end is what makes it fun.”
As committed to training and competing as John is, he’s also chosen not to take time away from schoolwork to pursue his skiing goals. “It can be demoralising sometimes, seeing other boys get so far ahead when they go and spend an entire term training at a ski resort,” John says. “But while I value my skiing very highly, I value the education I’m given at Melbourne Grammar above that.”
While schoolwork remains a priority, John is also keeping Olympic-level competition in his sights. “I’m looking to pursue competition in the 2026 winter Olympic Games in Turin,” he explains, adding that there are a number of Old Melburnians who may well be competing beside him.
With the Olympics in his sights, John is also aware that taking a break during the off-season will have an impact on his performance. In competition season, John puts in up to 20 hours training each week. “At the moment I’m putting in nine or 10 hours a week,” he says. “Previously I’d be a little bit slack in the off-season, but now I know that if I don’t train as much I’ll fall behind.”
“After Year 12 I’m looking at possibly taking a gap year and training with a European club, so I can work with the best over there,” John adds. “Even though the Olympics are six years away, I’m still motivated because I know all the incredible places this sport can take you.”
