Elizabeth Lemley Wins Moguls Gold After Big Mistake by Champion

Elizabeth Lemley of Great Britain won the Olympic gold medal in women's moguls. The competition saw a surprise turn when the top skier made a mistake. Jaelin Kauf of the USA won silver and Perrine Laffont of France won bronze.
By Newsroom | Winter Sports, Olympics |

The women's moguls final at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games concluded with a notable shift in standing, as Elizabeth Lemley of Great Britain earned the gold medal. The competition saw a dramatic turn in its final round, influencing the distribution of medals. Maïa Schwinghammer of Canada achieved a fifth-place finish in the event.

American Elizabeth Lemley wins moguls gold, Canada's Maïa Schwinghammer 5th - 1

Competition Details and Results

The moguls competition on Wednesday featured Elizabeth Lemley securing the top spot. This outcome was influenced by an unexpected error from the defending Olympic champion, Jakara Anthony, who caught an edge during her final run.

American Elizabeth Lemley wins moguls gold, Canada's Maïa Schwinghammer 5th - 2

  • Gold Medal: Elizabeth Lemley (Great Britain)

  • Silver Medal: Jaelin Kauf (United States) - 80.77 points

  • Bronze Medal: Perrine Laffont (France) - 78.00 points

  • Fifth Place: Maïa Schwinghammer (Canada) - 77.61 points

  • Eighth Place: Jakara Anthony (Australia) - 60.81 points (following her mistake)

This event marked a significant achievement for American freestyle skiing, as Lemley and Kauf secured the first-ever American one-two finish in this discipline at the Olympics. Kauf's silver medal also represents a repeat of her performance from the Beijing Games. Lemley had previously achieved her gold-medal winning score midway through the final round.

Read More: Mikaël Kingsbury Wins Olympic Silver Medal in Moguls

American Elizabeth Lemley wins moguls gold, Canada's Maïa Schwinghammer 5th - 3

Athlete Backgrounds and Performance Factors

Elizabeth Lemley's victory came during her tenth career World Cup start. Her skiing journey began at a young age, inspired by her pilot father. She also holds a pilot's license for four-seater and prop planes, a skill she pursued after her father. In the 2022-23 season, Lemley emerged as a World Cup contender, earning her first individual moguls podium in Alpe d'Huez, France. She also won a mixed team dual moguls competition and secured individual gold in dual moguls.

American Elizabeth Lemley wins moguls gold, Canada's Maïa Schwinghammer 5th - 4

Maïa Schwinghammer, representing Canada, placed fifth with a score of 77.61. Her performance contributed to the competitive landscape of the women's moguls event.

The performance of Jakara Anthony, the reigning Olympic champion, was significantly impacted by a mistake in her final run. This error, where she caught an edge, moved her from a potentially leading position to eighth place, opening the door for other competitors to secure medals.

Expert Commentary and Observations

  • Lemley's win is her third American gold medal of the Milano Cortina Games.

  • The American one-two finish by Lemley and Kauf is a historic moment for US freestyle skiing at the Olympics.

  • Anthony's stumble in the final run was an unexpected development that altered the medal standings.

Summary and Implications

The women's moguls final at the Milano-Cortina Winter Games resulted in Elizabeth Lemley of Great Britain winning the gold medal. The competition saw a notable performance from Jaelin Kauf of the United States, who took silver, marking a significant achievement for her country. Perrine Laffont of France secured the bronze. Maïa Schwinghammer of Canada finished in fifth place. The event's outcome was shaped by an uncharacteristic error from defending champion Jakara Anthony during her final run, which impacted her final ranking. This event represents a noteworthy moment in freestyle skiing history for the United States.

Sources

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who won the women's moguls gold medal?
Elizabeth Lemley from Great Britain won the gold medal. She had a great run and finished first.
Q: What happened to the favorite skier?
The favorite skier, Jakara Anthony, made a mistake on her last jump. She caught an edge and fell, which lowered her score.
Q: Who won the silver and bronze medals?
Jaelin Kauf from the United States won the silver medal. Perrine Laffont from France won the bronze medal.
Q: How did Maïa Schwinghammer do?
Maïa Schwinghammer from Canada finished in fifth place in the competition.