Indra Brown, 15, earns her first World Cup win in Calgary

Australian teenager Indra Brown has declared herself one of the potential stars of next month’s Winter Olympics, continuing an impressive start to her World Cup career with a maiden win in the women’s freestyle halfpipe.

The 15-year-old maintained her run on the World Cup podium in her first three events by reaching the top for the first time in the Canadian resort of Calgary.

Brown matched the World Cup mark set by 15-year-old Swede Jenny-Lee Burmansson, who claimed podium finishes in her first three starts of the 2017-18 season.

“I’m full of joy, so happy that I was able to run and skate like I did today in these conditions,” said Brown, who earned a score of 85.20 on her first run, which no other skater could match.

Chinese Zhang Kexin (23 years old) came in second place with 84.20 points, and American Svea Irving (23 years old) also came in third place with 83.20 points.

“I’m so happy and excited and excited for more,” added Brown, who finished third in her World Cup debut at Secret Garden in China in early December and finished second at the US’s Copper Mountain Resort before the Christmas break.

She became the youngest Australian to win a World Cup and the first for her country to achieve three World Cup podium finishes.

Brown’s first win in Canada moved her to the top of the women’s halfpipe freestyle skiing standings with 240 points, 55 points ahead of Zhang in second place.

She has yet to be confirmed for the Australian team for the Winter Olympics, which begin in Milan and Cortina, Italy, on February 6.

Selection will take place after the World Cup Finals before the Games, which will be held in the American resort of Aspen from January 8 to 10.