Twenty-year old freestyle skier Elizabeth Lemley won a gold medal for Team USA in moguls on Wednesday with two fine runs to surprise the crowds in Livigno at the Winter Games.
Her victory put an end to a bid by Australia’s defending champion, Jakara Anthony, to retain the title she won in Beijing in 2022 after a disastrous final run. Anthony had been a huge favorite to win gold after dominating her sport for a number of years, but finished last of the eight finalists.
Lemley’s US teammate, Jaelin Kauf, won silver after also finishing second in Beijing. The 2018 Olympic champion, France’s Perrine Laffont, won bronze.
In the first run of the finals, Lemley was in firm control of her skis, and landed well after two big jumps. In the second run – also known as the superfinal – the skier pushed on the speed, showing off great technique around the moguls and pulled off a big grab on the bottom jump.
Under a bright and sunny afternoon sky in Livigno’s narrow valley, skiers were judged on their control, pace and aerial skills in a discipline that demands great versatility.
