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Mikaël Kingsbury ended his Olympic career on the top of the podium, winning the men’s dual moguls final on Sunday to capture Canada’s first gold medal of the Milano Cortina Olympic Games.
Kingsbury won the big final against Ikuma Horishima of Japan, who took silver, while Matt Graham of Australia rounded out the podium in the bronze-medal position.
It’s the second medal win of these Games for the native of Deux-Montagnes, Que. Kingsbury took silver after losing a tiebreaker in the final of the moguls event on Thursday.
Kingsbury excelled where many others in Sunday’s event, like his opponent in the big final, faltered: putting together clean runs.
“I don’t think getting to the bottom was very hard. It was hard to go fast. It was very sharp. And that was my key today, being fast with my absorption. And I’m very proud of myself the way I managed,” Kingsbury said. “It seemed like I was able to get better and better every round.
“I gave everything, I left nothing in the tank and finished my career being the first ever (men’s) duals gold medallist at the Olympics – one of the best days of my life.”
Mikaël Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., wins the inaugural Olympic men’s dual moguls competition at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games. The Canadian earns the fifth Olympic medal of his career (two gold and three silver), extending his record of Olympic medals won by a male freestyle skiing athlete.
The 33-year-old is the only men’s freestyle skier in history to own five Olympic medals. Kingsbury previously won moguls gold in 2018 and owns silver medals from both the 2014 and 2022 Olympic Games.
Kingsbury said despite some injury troubles, he never stopped believing that he could return to the top of an Olympic podium.
“The last couple of months have been very tough with the injury. Kind of lost hope sometimes, but when we did the right treatment, and I was able to feel better and better, I always believed every time I’m in the start gate. I believe in myself. If you can dream it, see it, believe it, anything can happen. I’m not surprised.
“I had a dream when I was eight years old to win the Olympics. I’m 33, and I’m still chasing my dream.”
Kingsbury said he was hopeful that his win could be the beginning of a Canadian gold rush in Italy.
“I read a lot of things online about Canada being cursed at these Olympics, so I really wanted [this win]. I knew our event finishes early, and that I could do it this morning,” he said. “And this is an event I’m very good at, and I gave everything I wanted.
“Maybe if I can give an uplift for my team and get that first gold medal out of the way, many more will follow, but I’m extremely proud of the way I managed my day.”
Quebec’s Mikaël Kingsbury wins Canada’s first gold of Milano Cortina 2026. CBC Olympic commentators Philippe Marquis and Alexandre Despatie break down what the freestyle skier did to get his fifth Olympic medal.
Olympic debut for the discipline
This was the first time a men’s dual moguls event had been contested an a Winter Games.
The discipline sees two competitors race down the course at the same time – but speed is just one part of how the event is judged. Scoring is also based on how a skier handles the moguls and how their legs stay together (turns), and what they do over the jumps (air).
Kingsbury opened competition with a 25-10 win over Czechia’s Matyas Kroupa in the 1/16 final before defeating Pavel Kolmakov of Kazakhstan 23-12. The Canadian won his quarterfinal after Daeyoon Jung of South Korea did not finish.
Mikaël Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., receives his gold medal for his victory in the inaugural Olympic men’s dual moguls competition at Milano Cortina 2026. The Canadian earns the fifth Olympic medal of his career (two gold and three silver), extending his record of Olympic medals won by a male freestyle skiing athlete.
Kingsbury guaranteed himself a medal after defeating Japan’s Takuya Shimakawa in the semifinals 33-2. Earlier, Shimakawa had eliminated the other two Canadians in the competition.
Elliot Vaillancourt, of Drummondville, Que., lost in the first round to Shimakawa by a score of 20-15.
Canada’s Julien Viel, who had a first-round bye, crashed hard in his 1/8 final matchup against Shimakawa. The 24-year-old from Quebec City was able to ski off the course under his own power but registered as a did not finish.
