Mikaël Kingsbury claims dual moguls gold, becomes first freestyle skier with five Olympic medals
Mikaël Kingsbury secured gold in the inaugural Olympic men’s dual moguls event on Sunday (ET), taking his tally to five Olympic medals and delivering Team Canada's first gold of Milano Cortina 2026. The victory further cements Kingsbury’s status as the sport’s most decorated moguls athlete.
Historic milestone and quick competition recap
In a format that pairs skiers head-to-head through a knockout bracket, Kingsbury navigated the field with authority. After advancing through the early rounds, he benefited from opponents who failed to finish in both the quarterfinals and semifinals, then outclassed longtime rival Ikuma Horishima in the final. Horishima lost control in the closing sections and skied through the last jump, opening the door for Kingsbury to take gold.
The dual moguls format blends speed with judged elements — turns and aerial maneuvers both factor into judges’ scores — so winning requires a mix of technical precision and tactical racing. Kingsbury, who has long excelled in judged moguls formats, leaned on that experience despite this being his first dual moguls competition of the season. His history in head-to-head competition proved decisive in the bracket-style setup.
What this win means for Kingsbury and Canada
The gold marks Kingsbury’s second medal of these Games and the fifth Olympic medal of his career, a milestone that makes him the first freestyle skier to reach five Olympic podium finishes. For Canada, the victory represents the nation’s opening gold of Milano Cortina 2026 and a symbolic moment, with one of its most accomplished winter athletes expanding an already extraordinary legacy.
Beyond the medal count, the win underscores Kingsbury’s longevity at the highest level. He has amassed numerous world titles in dual moguls across his career, and while this was his first dual moguls outing this season, his performance showed he remains at peak competitive form. The result also validates the strategic and technical approach he’s used for years: a focus on clean, controlled turns combined with strong aerial execution that impresses the judges even in side-by-side racing.
Brackets, rivals and the road ahead
The tournament-style bracket produced several notable moments. Several top competitors were eliminated after errors or DNFs, which highlighted the pressure-packed nature of dual moguls where one mistake can end a campaign instantly. Kingsbury’s path featured both decisive wins and fortuitous advances when opponents faltered, but the final against Horishima left no doubt — Kingsbury capitalized on openings and delivered the technical form and composure judges reward.
Looking forward, the gold deepens Kingsbury’s place in Olympic history and will likely shape expectations for him in future World Cups and world championships. For the event itself, dual moguls’ Olympic debut provided a dramatic, spectator-friendly spectacle that blended head-to-head excitement with judged athleticism, and it may influence how nations allocate resources and focus for upcoming seasons.
At Milano Cortina 2026, Kingsbury added another defining chapter to a career built on consistency and excellence. With five Olympic medals now in his collection, he has set a new benchmark for freestyle skiing and given Canada an early centerpiece moment at these Games.
