American Dominates in Livigno, Kauf Repeats Silver
Elizabeth Lemley captured Olympic gold in women’s freestyle moguls on Wednesday, delivering a stunning upset over defending champion Jakara Anthony of Australia. The 20-year-old scored 82.30 points to claim the top spot at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy.
Lemley’s victory marks a watershed moment for U.S. women’s freestyle skiing. Her teammate Jaelin Kauf secured silver with a score of 80.77, creating the first-ever 1-2 American finish in women’s freestyle skiing at the Olympic Games. Kauf, 29, repeated her silver medal performance from the 2022 Beijing Olympics.
The upset unfolded dramatically in the final run. Anthony, who dominated both qualification rounds and held a commanding lead entering her final attempt, slipped early in her run and finished eighth overall—a shocking conclusion for the athlete favored to defend her moguls title from four years ago.
“Lemley was known for her dynamic turns and technical prowess, having previously bested Anthony on turn scores,” said observers of the competition. Her smooth navigation of the course and superior technique on the moguls proved decisive in the eight-skier final.
France’s Perrine Laffont, the 2018 Olympic gold medalist, claimed bronze with 78 points. She had won the 2025 World Championship title heading into the Games.
U.S. Women’s Moguls Squad Shines
The American contingent showed exceptional depth throughout the competition. Olivia Giaccio finished just outside the top eight in the superfinal round, while teammate Tess Johnson narrowly missed qualification for the medal round.
Giaccio, who has rebounded from last season’s injury, placed on three of four World Cup podiums in moguls this season, ranking third in FIS standings. Johnson, 25, the second-ranked athlete in World Cup standings, overcame spinal cord surgery to compete at the Olympics after missing the 2022 Beijing Games.
The women’s moguls event tested competitors’ abilities across multiple dimensions, with turns accounting for 60 percent of the final score. Air techniques and speed made up the remainder.
