Canadians Secure Four Spots in Moguls Final on Qualification Day One
The moguls qualifications for the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games began on February 10, 2026. Canadian athletes performed impressively, securing four spots in the finals after the first round of qualifications.
Men’s Qualification Highlights
Julien Viel emerged as the top Canadian, finishing second overall in the men’s qualifications. This performance guaranteed him a direct entry into the finals. He noted feeling nervous before his run but was pleased with his execution, stating, “I’m happy to have qualified; it’s one less source of stress.” This marks his Olympic debut, building on a recent gold medal win at the World Cup in Val St. Come.
Three-time Olympic medallist Mikaël Kingsbury, who is competing in his fourth Olympics, finished third on qualification day. Kingsbury holds a remarkable record, having won one Olympic gold, two silvers, nine World titles, and over 100 World Cup victories. Despite not hitting his peak performance, he expressed optimism about his run, stating, “There’s plenty to improve on which I’m very happy about.” Leading the men’s division was Japan’s Ikuma Horishima.
Summary of Men’s Results
- Julien Viel: 2nd place, qualified for finals.
- Mikaël Kingsbury: 3rd place, qualified for finals.
- Ikuma Horishima (Japan): 1st place.
- Elliot Vaillancourt: 16th place, requires another chance on Thursday.
Women’s Qualification Highlights
On the women’s side, Canadians Maïa Schwinghammer and Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert also secured final spots. Schwinghammer finished sixth, overcoming pre-run jitters and scoring 74.90 points. She expressed excitement about having her family present for support during her Olympic debut.
Desmarais-Gilbert finished eighth, celebrating her qualification with enthusiasm. “Since crossing the finish line, I’m officially an Olympian, and that’s truly amazing,” she remarked.
Summary of Women’s Results
- Maïa Schwinghammer: 6th place, qualified for finals.
- Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert: 8th place, qualified for finals.
- Ashley Koehler: 13th place, did not qualify.
- Jessica Linton: 15th place, did not qualify.
The next rounds of qualifications and finals are set to occur on Wednesday for the women and Thursday for the men. The prospects for Team Canada look promising with four athletes secured in the finals.
