The 29-year-old surprised the crowd at Phoenix Park when she finished her quarterfinal in first place.

She had been having a great day but an unfortunate start for Kennedy-Sim in the semi-final saw her head to the small final. 

Australia's best finish at a Winter Olympics for ski cross had been seventh.

During the small final, Kennedy-Sim stayed on the tale of Sweden's Lisa Andersson but right on the line, she was beaten by Sanna Luedi. 

"I was feeling on fire today," she told Channel 7 after her small final.

"You never come for anything but the best to expect that from everybody is unrealistic and I did my best today, I left everything out there today.

"Bittersweet but best result of the season so far but it would've been nicer to be in top four," she said. 

Canada did a one-two double in the final with Kelsey Serwa taking the gold and Brittany Phelan taking the silver while Switzerland's Fanny Smith took the bronze.