Olympic Preview: Moguls on the Road to Milano Cortina 2026

With the Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games just around the corner, attention turns to one of freestyle skiing’s most demanding and dynamic disciplines. Moguls skiing returns to the Olympic stage in Livigno with a programme that blends tradition and innovation, highlighted by the long-awaited Olympic debut of Dual Moguls alongside the individual moguls competitions.

The Olympic Games represent a unique moment in the moguls calendar. While the World Cup season continues beyond the Games, Olympic competition stands apart, placing athletes in an environment where execution, decision-making, and mental resilience are tested under unparalleled scrutiny. Performances in Livigno will be defined not only by technical quality and speed but by the ability to deliver when the stakes are highest.

After hosting World Cup Finals last season, Livigno’s Carosello 3000 venue once again provides the setting for freestyle skiing at the highest level. The course is familiar to many athletes, yet Olympic conditions bring an added layer of pressure that often reshapes competitive dynamics and produces unexpected outcomes.

The first half of the winter has offered glimpses of form and progression, but Olympic history has repeatedly shown that momentum can shift quickly once medals are on the line. Established champions, proven Olympic performers, and rising contenders will all arrive in Livigno with the same objective, knowing that Olympic success often comes down to precision in a single run.

As the moguls competitions approach, the stage is set for an Olympic contest defined by intensity, depth, and head-to-head drama. With medals to be decided and the sport entering a new Olympic chapter, all eyes now turn to Livigno for what promises to be a defining moment of Milano Cortina 2026.

Now let’s turn to what to expect in Livigno by highlighting some of the leading contenders set to compete at the Olympic Games.

Starting with the women’s field, Australia’s reigning Olympic champion Jakara Anthony arrives as one of the athletes to watch. After being sidelined for almost the entire previous season with a broken collarbone, Anthony has returned in emphatic fashion. She has claimed three World Cup victories this winter and currently leads the overall standings. One of the most technical and consistent skiers on tour, Anthony brings both Olympic experience and proven winning form into Milano Cortina 2026.

The United States women’s team once again lines up as one of the deepest and most competitive squads in the sport. Simply earning a place on the Olympic team is an achievement in itself, and each athlete arrives in Livigno as a legitimate medal contender.

Leading the charge is Jaelin Kauf, last season’s Moguls triple crown winner. Known as one of the fastest skiers on the circuit, Kauf is widely regarded as a major favourite, particularly in Dual Moguls, where her speed and intensity often prove decisive.

Tess Johnson continues to build on her upward trajectory and is enjoying the strongest season of her career so far. Currently in the fight for the Crystal Globe and having worn the yellow bib this winter, Johnson arrives with confidence and momentum. After a difficult Olympic experience in Beijing, where she was named as an alternate and did not compete, she now enters Milano Cortina determined and focused on capturing her first Olympic medal.

Olivia Giaccio has also returned to top form following an injury-interrupted season last year. She has finished on the podium in all but one World Cup event this winter, adding a fourth-place finish in the remaining start, underlining her consistency and competitiveness at the highest level.

Rounding out the U.S. squad is Elizabeth Lemley, the youngest member of the team and one of the most exciting young talents on tour. Returning from an ACL injury, Lemley has already secured two podium finishes this season, highlighting both her resilience and potential on the Olympic stage.

France’s Perrine Laffont brings a wealth of experience and pedigree into the Games. The Olympic champion from PyeongChang 2018, Laffont has collected eight World Championship medals and nine Crystal Globes during her career. She opted for a different approach this season, limiting her World Cup appearances to Ruka, where she finished second in the opening event before crashing in the following competition and stepping away from the circuit. More recently, she tested her form at the European Cup in Megève, where she showed strong signs ahead of the Games. Known for her competitive mindset and ability to perform under pressure, Laffont will once again aim high in Milano Cortina.

We then have Anastassiya Gorodko of Kazakhstan, currently ranked sixth in the World Cup standings. Despite being just 20 years old, she already knows how to perform on the biggest stage. Gorodko is especially dangerous in Dual Moguls, the discipline in which she earned bronze medals at the World Championships in Almaty in 2021 and again last year in St. Moritz.

Further down the start list is Maia Schwinghammer of Canada, carrying the highest hopes for the Maple Leaf nation in this event. Maia suffered a heavy crash at the final World Cup stop in Waterville Valley before heading into the Games, but she’s a tough competitor who has shown time and again that she can bounce back when it matters most.

Then there’s Team Japan, featuring athletes like Rino Yanagimoto and last year’s World Championships silver medallist in Moguls, Hinako Tomitaka.

Finally on the women’s side, keep an eye on young Australian Charlotte Wilson, who already knows how to win in Livigno after claiming her first World Cup victory at this venue last year in Dual Moguls.

We’re only halfway through, and the excitement is already through the roof — but now, let’s shift our focus to what awaits us on the men’s side.

Coming straight off his historic 100th World Cup victory, Mikaël Kingsbury has joined an incredibly exclusive club: just a handful of athletes in the history of FIS Olympic sports have ever reached this level of dominance. With more than 15 years at the top of the circuit, Kingsbury is widely regarded as the greatest moguls skier of all time. A three-time Olympic medallist, including gold at PyeongChang 2018, “Mik” is heading into his fourth Olympic Games. While he’s competed sparingly this season due to a groin injury sustained on water ramps during the summer, his approach has been clearly strategic. His performance in Val St-Côme proved he’s still capable of skiing at the very highest level. There have been rumours that this could be his final Olympic appearance, and whether that’s true or not, expect Kingsbury to make every run in Livigno count.

That said, Kingsbury may be facing the toughest Olympic competition of his career — and leading that charge is none other than Ikuma Horishima. Horishima has openly stated his ambition to become the next Kingsbury of moguls skiing, and he’s backing it up with results. Arriving at the Games as the World Cup number one, Ikuma brings one of the most technical runs in the field, featuring a double full on the top air and a cork 1440 on the bottom. This run earned him World Championship gold last season as well as victory at the Olympic test event here in Livigno — and it’s already pushed the rest of the field to raise the technical bar. Of course, we know Kingsbury can always answer back. Could we see duelling 1440s on Olympic snow? Let’s find out.

Of course, we also can’t forget the reigning Olympic champion, Walter Wallberg of Sweden. Wallberg has endured a tough road back, missing almost all of last season due to injury and dealing once again with back issues this year. He did return in Ruka in December, finishing as runner-up, and while recent reports suggest he’s been managing a stress fracture in one of his vertebrae, very few athletes handle adversity the way Walter does. With the motivation to defend his Beijing 2022 gold, he remains a serious contender for the podium.

The United States arrives with a stacked squad led by Nick Page. The battle to make this Olympic team was fierce, and the entire group has been skiing at a high level all season. Alongside veteran Dylan Walczyk, rising talents Landon Wendler and Charlie Mickel give the U.S. plenty of medal potential.

Australia brings in current World Cup number two Matt Graham, who’s enjoying a very strong season that already includes a win in Ruka. Graham also brings valuable Olympic experience, having claimed silver back in 2018.

Canada’s depth continues with Julien Viel, who earned his first World Cup victory earlier in January and currently sits fourth overall in the standings.

Beyond the headline names, the field is absolutely stacked. Finland is represented by Olli Penttala, Severi Vierelä, and Akseli Ahvenainen. France brings proven contenders Thibaud Mouille and Benjamin Cavet. Kazakhstan’s veteran Pavel Kolmakov is always dangerous, while Sweden’s Rasmus Stegfeldt adds further depth. Japan counters with Takuya Shimakawa and Goshin Fuji, and don’t forget about Cooper Woods, who is always capable of shaking up the standings. This is moguls at its deepest and most competitive.

Last, but certainly not least, we end with Korea’s Daeyoon Jung — placed here intentionally. Jung comes into the Games as an underdog, but he might just be the most exciting moguls skier in the field. His progression has been rapid, and on the right day he’s already capable of contending for gold. He proved that last season by winning bronze at the World Championships, and his cork 1440 with a grab is among the highest-scoring airs in the sport.

With this level of depth, there will be no easy runs, no safe qualifiers, and absolutely no room for mistakes.

Moguls Schedule at Milano Cortina 2026

• Moguls Qualifications: 10 February

• Women’s Moguls Final: 11 February

• Men’s Moguls Final: 12 February

• Dual Moguls: 14 February

Everything is set for an unforgettable Olympic moguls competition. With Dual Moguls making its Olympic debut, we’re in for a week of speed, power, and head-to-head drama unlike anything we’ve seen before. Livigno is ready — and so are the best moguls skiers on the planet.