Mikael Kingsbury dominates with record score in Sweden

In Sweden, Canadian freestyle skier Mikael Kingsbury achieved a remarkable victory on December 6, 2024, during the World Cup moguls event held in Idre Fjäll. At 32 years old, Kingsbury has reaffirmed his status as a premier athlete in the sport, scoring a season-high 87.92 points. This achievement not only added to his extensive medal tally but also continued his perfect start to the current World Cup season. In this race, he outperformed competitors Ikuma Horishima of Japan, who finished second with 85.89 points, and Sweden's Walter Wallberg, who placed third with a score of 85.63 points. Julien Viel from Mont-Saint-Anne, Québec, finished in eighth place, marking his 10th career top-10 finish on the circuit. Kingsbury's victory in Sweden followed his triumph at the World Cup season opener held in Ruka, Finland, the previous week, where he likewise secured the gold medal. In that event, Wallberg took silver and Horishima claimed bronze. The results of these races demonstrate not only Kingsbury's superb skill but also his consistency, having achieved 92 World Cup victories and 131 medals in just 151 starts throughout his career. His performance solidifies his position as the winningest male athlete in the history of the World Cup across all skiing disciplines. Over the course of his impressive career, Kingsbury has continually pushed the boundaries of competitive skiing. He surpassed the legendary Swedish alpine skier Ingemar Stenmark's record last season for the most all-time World Cup victories by a male athlete, a milestone that underlines Kingsbury's dedication to his sport, his exceptional talent, and his tireless work ethic. His accolades also include an Olympic gold medal in moguls skiing in 2018, along with silver medals in both the 2014 and 2022 Winter Olympics. As Kingsbury enters his 16th season of competition, the skiing community eagerly anticipates how he will continue to perform as he aims to extend his record further into the upcoming events of the World Cup series. His ongoing success not only serves to inspire budding athletes in the world of freestyle skiing but also reinforces Canada’s strong reputation in winter sports, especially in disciplines as competitive as moguls skiing. With numerous opportunities still ahead in the season, Kingsbury's momentum raises expectations for what could be another extraordinary year for this skilled athlete.