David Morris

David John Morris (born 31 August 1984) is an Australian aerial/freestyle skier who competed in 3 Winter Olympic Games in 2010, 2014 and 2018. He is Australia's most successful male aerial skier, having competed across FIS World Cup, World Championships and Winter Olympic competitions. He is the first Australian male aerial skier to compete at two consecutive Olympic Games, and the first Australian medalist in the Olympic Men's Aerials.

Early and personal life Morris was born in Melbourne.

At about four years of age, he commenced a lifelong passion for gymnastics at the Nunawading Gymnastics and Sports Club (NGSC, formally known as the Nunawading Youth Club) and he learned to ski at age three. He has demonstrated capabilities in cricket, diving and football but has always returned to gymnastics and from there to aerial skiing.

He is a qualified Mathematics and Physical Education teacher and, when he is at home between training camps and competitions, occasionally works as an emergency relief teacher at Whitefriars College, Donvale. He also coaches gymnastics, cheerleading and trampoline and is in demand as a motivational speaker.

Morris released his self-published autobiography "SECOND NATURE - The Making of a Professional Athlete" in December 2014 following his Olympic silver medal performance in Sochi 2014.

Skiing career Early aerial skiing career Since Australia did not have a program for male aerial skiers, former Australian World Champion aerial skier Kirstie Marshall volunteered to coach him on weekends in the basics of aerial skiing and when she was expecting her second child, she enlisted the help of former Australian male aerial skier Jonathan Sweet, as a personal coach until Morris was ready for private training overseas.

Competitive performance Australian Aerial Skier David Morris at the 2014 Lake Placid World Cup Event. Lake Placid, New York City.

Morris won his first medal (a Silver) in an International Skiing Federation (FIS) race (USA selections) on 20 December 2007 in Park City and has gone on to become Australia's most successful male Aerial Skier, finishing the 2012/13 season ranked second in the World Cup standings. He has achieved a number of wins in various FIS Competitions. He was the first Australia Male Aerial Skier to win a World Cup gold medal, and in doing so he became Australia's most successful male Aerial Skier. He would later go on to win a silver medal at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic Games, becoming Australia's first male aerial skier to do so.

Competition No. of medals No. of times competed Best single result Best overall season result FIS Races 3 9 2nd n/a NorAm 4 16 1st (twice) 4th (2007/08 and 2008/09) Europa Cup 3 6 2nd 10th (2012/13) World Cup 5 39 1st 2nd (2013/14) World Championship 1 4 3rd n/a Winter Olympics 1 3 2nd n/a Results as per the FIS, Source:

2010 Winter Olympics/Olympic debut

Morris' performances led to his selection in the Australian Olympic Team for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, where he finished in 13th position.

He was the first Australian male to compete in aerial skiing at the Winter Olympics for 12 years. During the Vancouver 2010 Games, Morris was coached by Jerry Grossi who formerly competed in aerial skiing for the USA.

Injury and comeback Morris concentrated on regaining his fitness through gym work and recommenced competitive aerials in 2012/13. His come-back season in 2012/13 proved to be his best ever with two podium finishes, including 1st place in Bukovel, Ukraine. His win was broadcast in Australia on Eurosport.

Morris was selected to compete for Australia at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. He competed in the Men's Aerial Skiing competition held on 17 February 2014, winning the silver medal. Morris was also elected to be the flag bearer for the Australian team at closing ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

2018 Winter Olympics Morris competed in the 2018 Winter Olympics where he finished 10th in the men's aerials final.

Awards Apart from his sporting achievements and Olympic silver medal, Morris has also received various other honours and awards, including:

– 2014 Ski and Snowboard Australia Athlete of the Year, Joint winner with Torah Bright.

– 2014 Sir Wilfred Kent Hughes Award: Awarded by the Victorian Olympic Council.

– The award for "Senior Sportsman of the Year" at Whitefriars College in 2014 (David's high-school) has been named in his honour.

– 2013 Ski and Snowboard Australia Aerial Skiing Athlete of the Year.

Current statistics As at 11 September 2015, Morris is ranked 30th in the world based on FIS points. At the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, he qualified He has yet to compete in a subsequent World Cup season. He holds the Australian Record for the highest point score of 247.91 at the Lake Placid World Cup on 18 January 2013, and the second highest point score of 242.93 at the Val Saint-Côme Freestyle skiing World Cup on 12 January 2013, for two consecutive jumps in an international competition.