Now a three-time reigning world champion, the holder of seven world titles and the nickname “King of the Moguls” that doesn’t crumble! In short, Quebecois Mikaël Kingsbury remained the monarch of freestyle skiing on Saturday thanks to a victory at the World Championships in Bakuriani, Georgia.
• Also read: Freestyle skiing: the routine for Kingsbury, an unforgettable first for Viel
With a score of 89.82 in the Superfinal, Kingsbury beat Australia’s Matt Graham (88.90). The Swede Walter Wallberg, winner of the last Olympic Games in Beijing, won the bronze medal.
“It’s crazy,” the 30-year-old Quebecer responded moments after the ordeal. I came in without putting too much pressure on myself, but it was a very tough Superfinal. I just believed in myself. It’s a perfect day for me!”
Kingsbury used their experience to prevail when this individual competition was held at a new track in Bakuriani. The Quebecer was able to adapt. The skier from Deux-Montagnes was also in a good position, qualifying first for the Superfinal with a score of 89.10.
Until Sunday
Kingsbury, also a three-time Olympic medalist and holder of 23 World Cup crystal globes, will have an opportunity to add to his roster starting Sunday at the Worlds when the event is held in parallel.
The Quebecer is aiming for the double, a feat he achieved in the previous two editions in 2019 and 2021.
“The job is half done,” agreed Kingsbury. Why not hit a third straight double?
Kingsbury is competing in its seventh Freestyle Ski World Championships. He now has (4 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze in singles). His results parallel: so far 3 times gold and 2 times silver. Only once did Kingsbury come off the podium at two moguls in Spain 2017.
Quebecers Elliot Vaillancourt and Julien Viel finished 12th and 14th respectively on Saturday.
Perrine Laffont champion
In the women’s category, French Perrine Laffont won ahead of American Jaelin Kauf. Surprising Austrian Avital Carrol, third, won her first career medal.
Canada’s Maïa Schwinghammer, 21, qualified for the Superfinal with a 79.10. However, the one who is also the wife of Viel fell during her last descent and finished fifth.
With an 11th place, Quebec’s Laurianne Desmarais-Gilbert achieved her best result of the season at international level.