David Morris

Morris was born in Melbourne, as were his parents and siblings. He has a younger brother and younger sister. Morris attended two primary schools: St. John’s Primary School, Mitcham and Our Lady of The Pines, Donvale and completed his secondary education at Whitefriars College, Donvale. David also spent 3 years in Denmark with his family from 1995–1997, he attended Rygaards International School.

As at 11 September 2015, Morris is ranked 30th in the world based on FIS points. At the most recent Olympics, the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, he qualified 3rd in the Olympic Winter Games selection rankings. Morris finished the 2013–2014 Aerial Skiing World Cup season in 6th place. 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,(registration required) 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.

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. A detailed and personal account of his journey and struggles to become the only male on the Australian Aerial Skiing Team. In it he describes his experiences and the valuable lessons he learned in becoming a world class athlete. His book is available in Australia through his website www.AerialSkier.com/biography

Morris was selected to compete for Australia at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. He remains the only internationally competitive male aerial skier in Australia at any level and is therefore ranked 1st in Australia.

Morris was one of 60 members of the Australian Winter Olympic team in the 2014 Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, Russia. He competed in the Men's Aerial Skiing competition held on 17 February 2014, winning the silver medal. He was coached by Cord Spero and Eli Budd. Morris was also elected to be the flag bearer for the Australian team at closing ceremony of the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games.

Morris travels extensively to the USA, Canada, Switzerland and Finland to train, jumping on snow during winter, and into water during warmer months. Morris is coached by Joe Davies and Jeff Bean, who formerly competed in aerial skiing for Canada. He has also benefited greatly from periodic coaching assistance by Michel Roth who is the Swiss Head Coach but is generous with his help for all athletes in aerial skiing. His coach at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games were Cord Spiro and Eli Budd.

– 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.

Having come to the view that he still had more to offer, 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.

After having to defer parts of his tertiary studies many times due to commitments with training and competing overseas, he graduated from Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in 2011 with a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physical Education) with Honours 1st Class.

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.

In the 2010/11 competition season Morris injured his hip during a competition in Calgary, requiring surgery and a long recuperation. As a result, he stepped out of competition during 2011/12 and re-evaluated whether to continue in the sport. He used this break from the sport to complete his much deferred university course.

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.

David John Morris (born 31 August 1984) is an Australian Olympic aerial/freestyle skier who competed in both the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi and the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. He is Australia's most successful male aerial skier, having competed across FIS World Cup, World Championships and Winter Olympic competitions. He was selected to represent Australia at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games. 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.