Jaelin Kauf Claims Silver in Historic Women’s Dual Moguls Final at Winter Olympics
American freestyle skier Jaelin Kauf earned the silver medal in the inaugural women’s dual moguls final at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy. This marked Kauf’s second medal of the Games and her third Olympic silver overall.
The 29-year-old Colorado native competed head-to-head against Australia’s Jakara Anthony, the 2022 individual Olympic champion. Anthony clinched gold with a final score of 20, while Kauf finished with a score of 15, securing the silver medal in this new Olympic event.
The dual moguls event made its Olympic debut this year, adding a racing component where two athletes race simultaneously down the mogul course. Competitors navigate a challenging track filled with bumps and execute aerial flips and twists off two jumps, requiring precision and speed to advance.
Kauf had previously won silver in the individual moguls event at both the 2022 Beijing Games and earlier this week in Milan Cortina. Her consistent podium finishes underscore her position among the sport’s elite athletes.
The event showcased strong performances by the U.S. moguls team. Fellow American Elizabeth Lemley, 20, took the gold, becoming the first American woman to win Olympic moguls gold since Hannah Kearney in 2010. This victory marked the third time an American woman has won gold in Olympic moguls history.
The podium at the dual moguls final featured:
- Gold: Elizabeth Lemley (USA)
- Silver: Jaelin Kauf (USA)
- Bronze: Perrine Laffont (France)
The success of Kauf and Lemley highlights a resurgence of U.S. dominance in women’s moguls skiing, a discipline that has been part of the Winter Olympics since 1992. The introduction of the dual moguls event presents fresh excitement and opportunities for head-to-head competition.
Following her individual silver earlier in the Games, Kauf reflected on the team’s achievements: “It’s been a long time coming for this team to stand on top of the podium at the Olympic Games, since Hannah Kearney retired. So it’s really cool to finally get that and to have one and two.”
With the debut of the dual moguls event and strong performances from Team USA, the 2026 Games have added an exciting chapter to the history of Olympic freestyle skiing. Both Kauf and Lemley have reaffirmed their status as leading athletes in the sport.
