Olivia Giaccio, Tess Johnson just miss dual moguls semifinal at Milano‑Cortina 2026
Two of the United States' top mogul skiers fell just short of advancing to the semifinal round in dual moguls at the Milano‑Cortina 2026 Winter Games in Livigno. The near misses mark a disappointing turn for athletes who have been among the event's most watched performers.
Close margins in qualifying leave U. S. pair on the outside
Both runs came down to tiny margins. In head‑to‑head racing, a single misstep or slightly cleaner air can mean the difference between progress and elimination; that razor‑thin gap was the story here. Neither athlete managed the clean, aggressive lines needed to secure a spot in the last eight, and both were eliminated before the semifinals began.
Tess Johnson's comeback stalls just short
Tess Johnson entered the day carrying one of the sport's most compelling narratives. A Vail native who took up skiing at age 2 and pivoted to moguls after early work on bumps and jumps, she made her Olympic debut as a teenager in 2018 and has since compiled world championship medals and World Cup victories. Her résumé includes a world championship bronze in dual moguls in 2019 and a silver in 2025, plus first‑place World Cup finishes in Almaty and Ruka.
Johnson also returned from significant adversity. In April 2023 she underwent spinal surgery to repair a chronically herniated L5‑S1 disc, an injury that hampered her for two seasons. She returned to competition seven months after surgery and steadily rebuilt form, finishing among the World Cup overall leaders the following seasons. Still, on this day her run fell just short of the consistency and amplitude needed to advance in duals.
Olivia Giaccio: solid season, unlucky draw
Olivia Giaccio, another key member of the U. S. moguls cohort, put together a competitive run but was unable to progress in the bracket format. The duals format pairs skiers directly and forces aggressive tactics; even a strong single run can be undone by the opponent's slightly cleaner air or faster transitions. Giaccio’s performance underscored how unforgiving the discipline can be at the Olympic level.
What this means for the U. S. moguls program
The eliminations alter the medal math for the U. S. on day two of freestyle competition. While two marquee names fell short, the depth of the program means there are still opportunities elsewhere in the freestyle schedule for the team to make an impact. The results will likely prompt quick tactical conversations among coaches about run selection and risk management for remaining events.
Outlook and immediate next steps
Both athletes will regroup quickly. For Johnson, the near miss will be measured against a broader comeback that included returning to the top step on the World Cup circuit and a historic world championship silver. For Giaccio, the focus will be on recovering the small technical edges — cleaner landings, sharper transitions and a touch more speed — that were lacking today.
At this level, margins are minimal and resilience can be decisive. Both skiers leave Livigno with motivation to refine their programs and chase podiums in the remaining international season and future championships.
