Mikael Kingsbury and Perrine Laffont retain moguls world titles in Bakuriani
The men's and women's Olympic champions from PyeongChang 2018 delivered two vintage performances to retain their crowns at the 2023 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships in Georgia.
Freestyle Skiing
Mikael Kingsbury and Perrine Laffont dominated the competition in Bakuriani to retain the men's and women's freeski moguls world titles respectively on Saturday (25 February).
Kingsbury, who lost his Olympic title to Walter Wallberg at Beijing 2022, was brilliant from the off at the 2023 Freestyle Ski and Snowboard World Championships, winning the qualification round with a score of 87.38.
In run 1 of the final, the Canadian put down an impressive 89.10 to maintain his place atop the standings.
With the top six qualifying for the second run of the final, Kingsbury picked up where he left off and sealed the title with a score of 89.92 - the best run of the competition.
“I came here with no pressure because I told myself, I’ve won six times at world championships, so why put pressure again? I just believe in me and that was super awesome." Kingsbury, who became the first athlete to win four moguls world titles, said after.
Silver went to Matt Graham of Australia with 88.90, while Sweden's Walter Wallberg completed the podium thats to his best effort of 88.52.
It was a similar story in the women's competition, where Lafftont won every run.
The Frenchwoman, who won Olympic gold at PyeongChang 2018, began preceedings with a table-topping 83.93 in qualification.
But in run 1 of the final, the reigning world champion turned things up a a notch with a mammoth score of 87.60, as Beijing 2022 Olympic champion Jakara Anthony of Australia bowed out in 17th with 55.29.
Laffont then sealed the title in style with another huge score of 87.40, and became the first woman to win consecutive world titles since Norway's Kari Traa in 2001 and 2003.
It was something of a redemption for the 24-year-old, who was the heavy favourite to win gold at Beijing 2022 before finishing in fourth place.
"It was such a hard day as I could feel the pressure, but I made it through. You just have to say 'OK' and ski, that's all!" Laffont said after.
Beijing 2022 silver medallist Jaelin Kauf of the USA finished second with a run 2 score of 83.56, while Austria's Avital Carroll took bronze with 80.19.