Four Canadians Advance to Moguls Finals After First Qualification Round
Four Canadians have successfully qualified for the moguls finals at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. This significant achievement took place during the first qualification round held on February 10, 2026.
Canadians Shine in Moguls Qualification
The standout performer for Canada was Julien Viel, who finished in second place during the men’s qualification round. This strong showing guarantees him a spot in the finals. He narrowly surpassed his fellow teammate, Olympic medalist Mikaël Kingsbury, who placed third.
Qualification Structure
The competition format allows the top ten skiers from the first qualification round to advance directly to the finals. Remaining athletes will compete in a second qualification round for an additional ten spots in the finals. The top eight from this group will move on to compete for medals.
Performance Highlights
- Julien Viel – Secured 2nd place, marking his Olympic debut.
- Mikaël Kingsbury – Finished 3rd, aiming for his fourth Olympic medal.
- Ikuma Horishima – The Japanese skier took 1st place.
Viel expressed relief after securing his finals spot, stating, “I’m happy to have qualified, which takes off some stress and allows me to concentrate on the final.” The 24-year-old skier had recently achieved his first World Cup gold medal in dual moguls, signaling his rising prominence in the sport.
Kingsbury’s Olympic Legacy
At 33, Kingsbury is a veteran skier, participating in his fourth Olympic Games. He aims to add to his impressive collection of three Olympic medals, nine world titles, and over 100 World Cup victories. Despite finishing third, Kingsbury remained optimistic, saying, “There’s a lot to improve on, which is encouraging.”
Canadian Women Excel
On the women’s side, two other Canadians advanced to the finals. Maïa Schwinghammer finished 6th and Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert took 8th place. Schwinghammer overcame pre-competition nerves, achieving a score of 74.90.
Reflecting on her performance, she noted, “It was really calm up there… I was happy to control my nerves and execute a clean run.” Meanwhile, Desmarais-Gilbert celebrated her first Olympic qualification, expressing excitement about representing Canada.
Other Canadian Results
- Elliot Vaillancourt – Finished 16th, will compete in the second qualification round.
- Ashley Koehler – Took 13th place.
- Jessica Linton – Finished in 15th.
The second round of qualifications and finals for the men’s and women’s events will continue this week. Fans are eagerly anticipating the performance of the Canadian athletes as they vie for Olympic glory.
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