Mikael Kingsbury’s Superstition Pays Off as Mogul Legend Bags First Gold For Canada at Winter Olympics 2026

In the inaugural men’s dual moguls, Mikael Kingsbury of Canada defeated Japan’s Ikuma Horishima in the big final to win the gold medal.

Mikael Kingsbury’s Superstition Pays Off as Mogul Legend Bags First Gold For Canada at Winter Olympics 2026

Mikael Kingsbury (Image via @milanocortina26)

In Short
  • Mikael Kingsbury won Canada's first gold medal at the Winter Olympics 2026 in men's dual moguls.
  • He attributed his success to a lucky T-shirt that he has worn since his World Cup debut.
  • Kingsbury hopes his victory will inspire more gold medals for Canada in the ongoing Olympics.

And on the ninth day, Canada has its first gold medal of the Winter Olympics 2026, and no one better to deliver it than the mogul skiing legend Mikael Kingsbury. After settling for a silver behind Australia’s Cooper Woods in moguls, the Canadian channeled that hunger for gold to finish the season, winning the first-ever men’s dual moguls.

While never formally verified, commentary alluded to the self-described “little stitious” habits of Mikaël Kingsbury. He reportedly had his lucky T-shirt on today while competing on the bumps.

The story of the t-shirt began years ago when he spotted the shirt, black with white lettering that read “it’s good to be the king,” at a shop in Portland. Kingsbury donned it for his World Cup debut and turned that first appearance into a silver-streaked statement.

It was my first World Cup podium, so I told myself, ‘Yeah, I should wear it again,’ and I had other good results, so it kind of became my lucky charm.

In the big final, Kingsbury edged mogul bronze medalist and Japan’s dangerous Ikuma Horishima in the big final. Horishima looked ferocious, especially in his previous rounds, with smooth turns and jumps at a higher speed.

However, Horishima couldn’t maintain that same smoothness against the Canadian as he lost his momentum while speeding down the slopes, missed the second ramp, and didn’t complete a jump, cementing Kingsbury’s second career Olympic gold.

In the small final, Australia’s Matt Graham defeated Japan’s Takuya Shimakawa to finish the men’s dual moguls podium. Woods, one of Australia’s biggest medal hopefuls, was eliminated in the 1/8 finals.

After his performance, Kingsbury said that he “really wanted this one, and I knew it was my last Olympic performance.” The 33-year-old Quebecois started his career almost two decades ago, a career illuminated by World Cup moguls victories with 100 and 13 consecutive freestyle event wins.

Kingsbury is also the first man to have both moguls and dual moguls World Championships. Through it all, he’s had the lucky t-shirt and underwear pair. Today’s gold marked the fifth Olympic medal of his career. He previously claimed silver in Sochi, Beijing, and Milan-Cortina, while his first gold came eight years ago at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Mikael Kingsbury hopes his gold will spark Canada’s long-awaited medal surge

It took nine days for “O Canada” to be heard at the Winter Olympics. Australia had three gold medals before Canada even had its first. Kazakhstan won its first gold in thirty-two years, and Brazil, a tropical country, won its first-ever gold for a South American nation in the Winter Olympics. All before Canada’s first.

Mikael Kingsbury singing O Canada on the medal podium (Image via @CanadianPM on X)
Mikael Kingsbury singing O Canada on the medal podium (Image via @CanadianPM on X)

It was as if Canada was cursed or something. Kingsbury told CBC that he was also aware of the online discourse about Canada’s lack of gold. He said:

I read a lot of things online about Canada being cursed at these Olympics, so I really wanted [this win]. I knew our event finishes early, and that I could do it this morning. And this is an event I’m very good at, and I gave everything I wanted.

He had come close once before, as had the mixed short-track speed team, and Eliot Grondin, all three securing silver. Now that the coveted gold is won, Kingsbury hopes that his win has given his nation the uplift they need to win more golds. He added:

Maybe if I can give an uplift for my team and get that first gold medal out of the way, many more will follow, but I’m extremely proud of the way I managed my day.

The ice hockey and curling events are underway, Canada are strong contender in both men’s and women’s events.

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