Canadian moguls skier Mikaël Kingsbury is set to compete at the upcoming Milano-Cortina Winter Games, aiming to secure two medals as part of Team Canada’s freestyle skiing squad. The announcement of the 25-athlete team was made jointly by Freestyle Canada and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Hailing from Deux-Montagnes, Quebec, Kingsbury clinched gold in the men’s moguls event at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games, along with a silver in 2014 in Sochi and another silver in 2022 in Beijing. As the all-time leader in World Cup victories, he will have the opportunity to vie for podium finishes in both moguls and dual moguls events, with the latter making its Olympic debut in Italy.
Coming off a successful World Cup season, which saw him achieve his 100th career victory on home turf in Val Saint-Come, Quebec, Kingsbury expressed his excitement about representing Canada at the Olympics for the fourth time. He emphasized his ambition to perform well in both events, especially given the historic introduction of dual moguls at the Games.
The freestyle skiing competitions are scheduled to run throughout the duration of the Winter Games, commencing on February 7th. Notable returning Olympic medalists besides Kingsbury include Cassie Sharpe and Rachael Karker in halfpipe, as well as Lewis Irving, Marion Thenault, and Miha Fontaine in mixed team aerials.
Reflecting on his participation, Kingsbury stated, “It’s an honor for me to represent Canada at the Olympic Games for the fourth time in my career. I always felt it was a privilege to wear my country’s colors, and this year will be even more memorable for me.” He added, “For the first time in Olympic Games history, we will have two events. Of course, my desire is to step on the podium at the end of both events. It would be a great way to celebrate what will probably be my last Games.”
The Canadian freestyle skiing team comprises athletes across various disciplines, including moguls, dual moguls, aerials, slopestyle, big air, and halfpipe. The team roster showcases a mix of experienced competitors and rising talents from different regions of Canada, ready to showcase their skills on the international stage.