Mikaël Kingsbury captures dual moguls gold in 1st event since Beijing Olympics
CBC
Mikaël Kingsbury of Deux-Montagnes, Que., gained a measure of revenge against Walter Wallberg, upending the 2022 Olympic moguls champion to win Saturday's dual event in World Cup action in Valmalenco, Italy.
It was the first race for Kingsbury since capturing a moguls silver medal at the Winter Games in Beijing last month to become the first male freestyle skier to earn three Olympic medals.
"It feels great to win today, especially after the Olympics and the break that followed," the 29-year-old said. "This is not my favourite type of course, especially with the smaller bumps, but I managed to do well and I'm very happy."
The 2018 Olympic gold medallist amassed 82.18 points in his Feb. 5 performance in China, trailing Wallberg of Sweden, who scored 83.23 at Genting Snow Park in Zhangjiakou, China, for his first major win on the senior circuit.
WATCH | Kingsbury picks up 72nd victory in 102 World Cup events:
Kingsbury was attempting to become the second men's moguls skier to win back-to-back Olympic gold medals after fellow Canadian Alex Bilodeau achieved the feat in 2010 and 2014.
Kingsbury's win Saturday was his fifth of the season and 72nd on the World Cup circuit in 102 competitions. He is attempting to win a 10th straight Crystal Globe as overall season winner.
The Canadian remains atop the overall moguls standings with 872 points.
WATCH | Kingsbury has insatiable appetite for winning:
Japan's Ikuma Horishima, Kingsbury's friend who won Olympic bronze last month, was second on Saturday following a crash after landing his first jump in the final. He is second to Kingsbury in the World Cup standings, 92 points behind.
Gabriel Dufresne of Joliette, Que., Elliot Vaillancourt of Drummondville, Que., Alexandre Lavoie of Lac-Beauport, Que., Brenden Kelly of Pemberton, B.C., and Jordan Kober of Penticton, B.C. were all eliminated in the round of 32.
In the women's event, Saskatoon's Maia Schwinghammer defeated Sofiane Gagnon of Whistler, B.C., in the first elimination round before being beaten by eventual gold-medal winner Jakara Anthony of Australia. Valerie Gilbert of Sainte-Adele, Que., was 14th while Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert of Sainte-Adele and Berkley Brown of Aurora, Ont., were 17th and 20th, respectively.
Elsewhere on Saturday, Max Moffatt of Caledon, Ont., won a slopestyle silver medal in unusual circumstances in Tignes, France.
Due to high winds, the event organizers were forced to cancel the final and the 23-year-old clinched his second silver medal of the season with a strong qualifying run.
Canada's Kevin Drury battled his way to a gold medal that left him in tears at a World Cup ski cross event on Friday in Val Thorens, France.
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