Olympics
Tuesday, February 10, saw the first round of mogul qualifiers at the 2026 Olympics. At the Olympics, the format sees the top 10 athletes advance straight to the final, while the remaining 20 athletes have another chance to qualify in the second qualification round. The course at Livigno, Italy, saw a packed crowd turn out to cheer on the 60 mogul athletes representing their respective countries. Americans and Australians were out in great numbers—not surprising considering the countries are have sent 15 athletes or 25% of the field between the two nations to the moguls competition.
Leading the charge in the women’s field was defending Olympic champion Jakara Anthony with a fast run and a cork 7 on the top air and a back-cross on the bottom air that scored her 81.65 points. She was closely followed by Americans Elizabeth Lemley (80.95 points) and Olivia Giaccio (80.74 points). 2025 World Champion Perrine Laffont from France was a close fourth.
Team USA had a total of three women qualify from round one, with Tess Johnson coming in ninth place. Last year’s overall season Crystal Globe winner Jaelin Kauf came off the course suffering big deductions and finished in 27th place but will have another chance to qualify on Wednesday, February 11.
Meanwhile, last season’s Rookie of the Year, Charlotte Wilson from Australia, also came out of the course, resulting in a 28th-place finish. Kauf and Wilson should definitely be candidates to make the second-round qualifications, provided they can put down a clean run.
In the men’s field, Ikuma Horishima from Japan led the field with 85.42 points after a signature fast run and two difficult jumps—a back-full on the top air and a cork 10 on the bottom air. No one else on the men’s side scored in the 80s. Canadians Julien Viel and Mikaël Kingsbury qualified in second and third place, while French moguls legend Ben Cavet qualified in fourth.
Team USA’s Nick Page and Dylan Walczyk made the qualifications in fifth and seventh place, while 2022 Olympic Champion Walter Wallberg from Sweden sat between the Americans in sixth place. Australia’s Matt Graham qualified in 10th place.
Meanwhile, Charlie Mickel and Landon Wendler finished in 11th and 12th—just outside the top 10 that qualified directly. They will have another chance to qualify for the finals on Thursday, February 12.
The top 10 from qualification round two will advance to the finals.
The women’s moguls finals are scheduled for Wednesday, February 11, at 8:15 a.m. ET, while the men’s finals are scheduled for 6:45 a.m. on Thursday, February 12.
