Schwinghammer Claims First Career Podium with Silver Medal as King of Moguls Secures Gold Number Four in Bakuriani
Calgary, Alberta – December 24, 2023
In a thrilling conclusion to the FIS Freestyle World Cup in Bakuriani, Canada’s rising star, Schwinghammer, etched her name into the annals of freestyle skiing, claiming her first career podium with a silver medal. Despite a minor misstep in the superfinal, Schwinghammer’s outstanding performance saw her triumph over fierce competitors like Olivia Giaccio and Alli Macuga from the USA, marking the first top-3 finish for Canadian women since Justine Dufour-Lapointe’s win in Deer Valley in 2020.
The Canadian triumph was mirrored on the men’s side by the indomitable Mikael Kingsbury, who made a remarkable comeback by clinching his fourth World Cup win of the season and 84th overall. His dominance in men’s moguls was further solidified with a resounding victory in the duals, capping off a successful weekend in Bakuriani after a bronze on friday.
The duals’ big final showcased an epic showdown between Kingsbury, known as the “King” in the moguls world, and Japan’s Ikuma Horishima. The battle lived up to the high expectations, with Kingsbury displaying unparalleled skill and determination to secure his fourth victory of the season.
The men’s podium was completed by Nick Page from the USA, earning a well-deserved third place after a victory in his small final against Filip Gravenfors.
Canadians Julien Viel, Gabriel Dufresne and Elliot Vaillancourt finished 9th, 11th and 13th respectfully
The final FIS Freestyle World Cup event of 2023 in Bakuriani, Georgia, concluded with a two-day display of freestyle skiing that left spectators on the edge of their seats. The dual moguls event at the Kokhta moguls venue brought the weekend to a high note, setting the stage for an exhilarating start to the holiday season.
As the athletes now take a well-deserved holiday break, the FIS Freestyle tour reflects on a dynamic December that spanned four distinct locations and hosted a total of seven competitions in both moguls and dual moguls. The anticipation is palpable for the next leg of the tour, set to resume in the third week of January with the North American segment promising more thrilling performances and unforgettable moments
