MILANO CORTINA, ITALY — In one of the most dramatic moments of the 2026 Winter Olympics, Australian freestyle skier Cooper Woods-Topalovic has captured gold in the men’s moguls event, producing a stunning performance that saw him edge out Canada’s moguls legend Mikaël Kingsbury on a tiebreak and deliver Australia’s first gold medal of the Milan-Cortina Games. The emotional victory, sealed on the razor’s edge of competition, has been widely hailed as one of the standout achievements of the Olympics so far.
A Finale for the Ages: How Woods Secured Gold
In the super final at the Livigno Aerials & Moguls Park, Woods posted a final score of 83.71, the same mark as Kingsbury — widely regarded as the greatest moguls skier of his generation. Under international moguls scoring rules, the tie was broken on the basis of turns score, with Woods’ technical proficiency (48.4) narrowly outperforming Kingsbury’s (47.7), securing gold for the 25-year-old Australian.
The competition was fiercely contested. Japan’s Ikuma Horishima, the reigning world champion, took bronze with a score of 83.44, while Sweden’s Walter Wallberg, the defending Olympic champion, finished just off the podium in fourth.
A Rare and Historic Win for Australia
Woods’ triumph marks only the third Winter Olympic gold for Australia in moguls — a discipline where the nation has punched above its weight. Previous Australian moguls Olympic champions include Dale Begg-Smith (gold in 2006) and Jakara Anthony (gold in women’s moguls in 2022). Woods’ victory also represents Australia’s seventh gold medal overall in Winter Olympics history, a remarkable feat for a country with a limited winter sports tradition.
Perhaps most remarkably, Woods achieved this without prior Olympic medals and minimal World Cup success; he had only stood on a World Cup podium once before and entered Milano-Cortina as something of a dark horse. His gold — Australia’s first medal of these Games — is being celebrated as a breakthrough performance and a defining moment in his career.
From Qualifier to Champion: Woods’ Path to the Podium
Woods’ route to Olympic gold was far from straightforward. In qualification, he finished 15th in the first round, necessitating a second-chance run — which he topped to advance. In Final 1, he scored the highest mark among the eight qualifiers, positioning himself for a shot at the podium. Then, in a dramatic super final that pitted him against the sport’s elite, he executed a near-flawless run under pressure, clinching gold in the sport’s most electrifying competition.
His story is one of resilience and peak performance under pressure — especially significant given the unpredictability and difficulty of moguls skiing, where athletes are judged on speed, precision turns and aerial tricks executed over a bumpy course.
The Giants and the Underdog: How the Field Stacked Up
Woods’ victory gains extra significance when viewed against the stature of his rivals. Mikaël Kingsbury, at 33, is widely recognised as the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history, with multiple Olympic medals and a record number of elite moguls victories. His silver at Milano-Cortina adds to a collection that includes gold in PyeongChang 2018 and previous silvers in Sochi 2014 and Beijing 2022.
Japan’s Ikuma Horishima, another podium regular and world championship contender, added bronze to his résumé with a powerful final performance, reinforcing his status as one of the most consistent moguls competitors on the world stage.
Reaction Down Under: Pride and Euphoria
Woods’ victory sparked an outpouring of joy and pride across Australia. Olympic broadcasters and social media lit up with praise for the underdog who defied expectations and delivered a gold medal performance. Fans celebrated the emotional scenes of Woods kissing his medal and standing atop the podium alongside his fiercest rivals.
Team officials and analysts alike described the gold as a major morale boost for the Australian contingent at the Winter Games, particularly following earlier ups and downs in other events. Woods’ achievement underscores Australia’s growing presence in winter sport and highlights the depth of its moguls program, which continues to yield world-class athletes.
Wider Olympic Context
Woods’ milestone forms part of a broader narrative at the 2026 Winter Olympics, where unpredictability and high-stakes competition have defined many events. From dramatic alpine races to standout performances in snowboarding and skating, Milano-Cortina has delivered riveting sport — and Woods’ gold is among the most memorable.
For Australia, the gold medal also serves as a reminder of the nation’s unique winter sporting legacy: consistently producing moments of brilliance on the world’s largest stage despite comparatively limited resources and terrain.
What Comes Next for Woods
In the immediate aftermath of his triumph, Woods reflected on the significance of the moment, admitting it had “not quite sunk in” and expressing deep gratitude for the support of coaches, teammates and family. The victory could also reshape his career trajectory, positioning him as a leading figure in freestyle skiing and a role model for aspiring winter athletes in Australia.
With competitions still underway across a range of disciplines at Milano-Cortina, Woods’ legacy-defining run will remain one of the defining stories of the 2026 Winter Olympics.
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