Cooper Woods of Australia secured the gold medal in the men’s moguls event at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics on Thursday, February 12th, marking Australia’s first gold medal of the Games. The stunning victory came at the Livigno Aerials and Moguls Park, where Woods, a relatively unknown competitor on the international stage, outperformed seasoned athletes including Canadian mogul legend Mikaël Kingsbury.
Woods’ winning score of 83.71 matched that of Kingsbury, but the Australian was awarded the gold due to a higher score on the turns – 48.4 compared to Kingsbury’s 47.7. Japan’s Ikuma Horishima claimed the bronze medal with a score of 83.44. The result was a surprise, as Woods had only one podium finish in his career prior to the Olympics, a second-place finish at Waterville in January 2024.
“It hasn’t really sunk in, the significance,” Woods told the Nine Network following his win. “I’m probably going to go home for a solid hour and sit there and figure out what’s going on.”
The Australian team had a strong showing overall in the men’s super final, with Matt Graham finishing fifth with a score of 80.88 and Jackson Harvey placing eighth. The win provides a boost for the Australian team after expectations were high for Jakara Anthony in the women’s event, a result that did not materialize.
Kingsbury, a thirteen-time World Cup champion, settled for silver, continuing a streak of near misses at the Olympics, having previously won silver at the 2014 Sochi Games and the 2022 Beijing Games. His sole Olympic gold remains his victory at the 2018 PyeongChang Games. The Canadian’s performance underscored the unpredictable nature of the moguls competition.
The competition saw Woods needing to qualify through a second-chance round on Thursday evening, which he then topped, demonstrating his ability to perform under pressure. His performance throughout the event showcased a series of impressive runs, ultimately culminating in the gold medal victory.
Walter Wallberg of Sweden finished fourth with a score of 82.40. The Australian team will now focus on upcoming events, including the women’s moguls competition and other freestyle skiing disciplines at the Milano Cortina Games.
