Star freestyle skier Mikaël Kingsbury pulled out of the men’s small final at the World Cup moguls season opener on Sunday. Despite finishing fourth in qualification, Kingsbury was absent from the small final start list. The 33-year-old athlete from Deux-Montagnes, Que., disclosed during a pre-event press conference that he has been managing a groin injury.
Recognized as one of Canada’s top contenders for medals at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Games, Kingsbury has amassed an impressive 99 career World Cup victories. With dual moguls set to make its Olympic debut, Kingsbury’s withdrawal raised concerns about his readiness for the prestigious event. Notably, he clinched gold in standard moguls at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games and secured silver in both 2014 and 2022.
Following Sunday’s events, the competition included another moguls round scheduled for Monday. Among the Canadian participants, Maïa Schwinghammer from Saskatoon emerged as the sole athlete to advance to the big final, achieving a commendable fifth-place finish in the women’s event.