Olympics Men’s Moguls Gold Decided by Tiebreaker; ‘GOAT’ Misses Victory
At the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Livigno, Italy, Australia’s Cooper Woods clinched the men’s moguls gold medal in a dramatic finale against Canada’s Mikael Kingsbury. Both competitors scored 83.71 points in the finals, making it one of the closest finishes in Olympic history.
Gold Medal Decided by Tiebreaker
The gold medal was awarded to Woods through a tiebreaker relying on the “turn score,” where he narrowly edged Kingsbury with a score of 48.4 to 47.7. The moguls scoring system incorporates three key components: turns, aerials, and time, and only the best scores from five judges are counted, with the highest and lowest scores omitted.
Final Results
| Medal | Name | Country | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Cooper Woods | Australia | 83.71 |
| Silver | Mikael Kingsbury | Canada | 83.71 |
| Bronze | Ikuma Horishima | Japan | N/A |
Ikuma Horishima of Japan received the bronze medal, impressing spectators with a spectacular 1440 on his second jump. This marked a memorable moment for the athletes, as Woods and Kingsbury watched from the top of the hill.
Emotions and Reflections
The highly competitive nature of the event placed Kingsbury in a bittersweet position, as this silver medal represents his third in Olympic history. He expressed mixed feelings, noting, “It was very close. You can’t get any closer than that.” He acknowledged the achievements of Woods, stating, “I’m very happy for Cooper. He’s a great guy, comes from a great family.”
Despite the initial disappointment, Kingsbury took a moment to reflect on his successful career. With 15 medals in 16 events at the Freestyle World Championships, he stands as the most decorated athlete in the competition’s history. Looking ahead, he confirmed that these Olympic Games would be his last as he approaches the age of 37.
Woods, on the other hand, described his victory as surreal and expressed his immediate thoughts about reuniting with family. He noted that the impact of his achievement hasn’t fully sunk in yet, although he felt a wave of emotion during post-competition interviews.
This edition of men’s moguls showcased the intensity of Olympic competition, where strategy, skill, and emotional resilience converge. As these athletes prepare for future endeavors, the memories of this close contest will linger, marking a significant chapter in Olympic history.
