Jaelin Kauf Survives Chaos to Reach Dual Moguls Final; Lemley Set for Bronze Match
LIVIGNO — On Day 8 of the Milan Cortina Games (Feb. 14, 2026 ET), the women's dual moguls bracket produced a rare sequence of crashes, comebacks and an all-American presence deep into the draw. Jaelin Kauf advanced to the final after a dramatic mid-run tumble, while Elizabeth Lemley — another U. S. contender — will race for bronze after a semifinal fall. Australia’s Jakara Anthony stands between Kauf and gold.
Semifinal mayhem on an icy slope
The semifinals in Livigno unfolded like a highlight reel of near-misses. Kauf, the crowd favorite, was bucked by a mogul and slammed into the course midway through her run, leaving her off-balance and shaken. The race might have ended there if not for the extraordinary outcome on the parallel course: Perrine Laffont also crashed and slid out of contention, handing Kauf the win and a ticket to the final.
Lemley tumbles but keeps bronze hopes alive
Elizabeth Lemley, who had been a contender throughout the bracket, also took a hard fall in her semifinal matchup. Unlike Kauf, Lemley’s path leads to the small final to determine the bronze medal — a one-run showdown that will test recovery and composure after a bruising day on the hill.
Final set: Kauf versus Anthony
The stage for the gold-medal race will pit a battered but advancing Jaelin Kauf against Jakara Anthony of Australia, one of the fastest and most technically polished athletes in moguls. Anthony’s speed and precision have made her a perennial threat, and the pairing sets up a high-stakes, stylistic contrast: Kauf’s grit and comeback resilience against Anthony’s fluid, high-velocity lines.
Team USA depth shines through the bracket
American depth was on full display earlier in the day when all four U. S. entrants won their quarterfinal matches to move forward. Tess Johnson and Olivia Giaccio joined Kauf and Lemley in advancing, underscoring the strength of the U. S. freestyle program. The momentum that produced that clean sweep of the quarters left fans and teammates optimistic even as the later rounds delivered unexpected drama.
What to watch next at Milan Cortina
Beyond the moguls course, Day 8 offered a packed schedule across the Games. Cross-country events continued to be dominated by one team that swept the sprint classic podium earlier in the week and arrives in the relay as the team to beat. On the ice, the men’s hockey team from the United States prepares to face Denmark later in the evening, while the women’s tournament moves into quarterfinals with a top-seeded national side set to meet Germany. Lighter moments also peppered the day: fans shared clips of dogs enjoying snowy morning scenes at nearby venues and many athletes marked Valentine’s Day in their own ways.
The dual moguls final and the bronze match will decide whether the U. S. can convert its deep showing into multiple medals in the discipline. For Kauf, the path to gold will require channeling the toughness that kept her in the bracket despite a mid-course crash. For Lemley, the small final is an opportunity to rebound and secure a podium spot after an afternoon of tumbles and near-misses.
