Historic Achievement at the Milan Cortina Games
In a historic achievement during the Milan Cortina Games, Canadian freestyle skiing legend Mikael Kingsbury showcased his exceptional skills by clinching the inaugural Olympic gold medal in men’s dual moguls, held in Livigno, Italy, on Sunday. At 33 years old, Kingsbury triumphed over Japan’s fierce competitor Ikuma Horishima in the final head-to-head heat of this newly introduced event, solidifying his status as a preeminent figure in the sport.
Men’s Dual Moguls: A New Olympic Event
This year marked a significant milestone as men’s dual moguls made its Olympic debut, allowing two athletes to ski simultaneously down a rugged course comprised of bumps and two acrobatic jumps, where they are assessed based on their skiing technique, jump execution, and finishing times. In contrast, traditional moguls, which have been part of the Olympic program since 1992, feature skiers racing individually down the course.
Kingsbury’s Olympic Journey
Kingsbury’s victory at these Games adds to his remarkable Olympic history, bringing his total medal count to five, including his last gold medal achieved at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. Earlier in the week, he faced an unexpected defeat, taking home a silver after being bested by Australia’s Cooper Woods in the moguls final, a race where he had previously earned a silver in both 2014 and 2022.
Medal Standings
As for Horishima, the 28-year-old skier added a silver medal to his collection, which already includes two bronze medals from prior competitions, including this week’s events and the Beijing 2022 Olympics. The bronze medal in Livigno went to Australia’s Matt Graham, who narrowly overcame Takuya Shimakawa of Japan.
Women’s Dual Moguls
Additionally, the previous day saw Australia’s Jakara Anthony take gold in the women’s dual moguls, marking another first for this event in Olympic history. Kingsbury’s gold marked Canada’s first victory of the Games, highlighting the country’s competitive spirit in winter sports.
