The United States celebrated a landmark moment in Olympic freestyle skiing history Wednesday night in Milan Cortina, as 20-year-old Liz Lemley stunned defending Olympic champion Jakara Anthony of Australia to capture gold in the women’s moguls final. Teammate Jaelin Kauf secured silver, sealing the first-ever U.S. 1-2 finish in a women’s freestyle skiing event at the Winter Olympics.
In a final packed with drama and shifting momentum, Lemley delivered the performance of her young career when it mattered most. Known for her dynamic turns and technical precision, the first-time Olympian carved her way down the course with remarkable composure, posting a winning score of 82.30. Her fluid navigation and crisp execution on the bumps separated her from the field and ultimately from Anthony, who had looked nearly untouchable through much of the competition.
Lemley, the youngest member of the American moguls team, entered the Games amid a breakout season that included a second-place finish in Waterville Valley and a fourth-place standing in the World Cup rankings. She had already shown flashes of brilliance earlier in the competition, finishing less than a point behind Anthony in the first round of qualification. Though she placed fourth in an earlier final round, she refused to let the setback define her night.
Four years ago in Beijing, Anthony dominated the event, overpowering France’s Perrine Laffont and sweeping all three final rounds to secure Australia’s first Olympic gold in women’s moguls. In Milan Cortina, it initially appeared history might repeat itself. Anthony controlled both the first round of qualification and the final, at one point leading by more than three points and setting the standard with her trademark speed and aggression.
But with the pressure mounting and Lemley surging, the decisive moment came during Anthony’s final run. The Australian lost control of her speed early on, slipping and briefly halting her rhythm. The mistake proved costly. A disrupted run left her eighth overall in the final standings, opening the door for the American breakthrough.
Kauf’s silver medal added another compelling chapter to the U.S. story. The 29-year-old veteran became the first moguls skier ever to advance through the second qualifying round and then reach the Olympic podium. After a stumble in the first round of qualification left her languishing in 24th place, Kauf regrouped and responded with resilience. She finished second in the second qualifying round and then soared into second place in the final, matching the silver medal she won in Beijing four years ago.
Kauf’s Olympic success continues a family legacy deeply rooted in moguls skiing. Her parents, Patti and Scott Kauf, both competed professionally in the discipline, combining for seven ProMogul Tour titles. Jaelin herself once shared a podium moment with her mother after earning a medal at the X Games — a testament to the sport’s generational impact on her life.
France’s Perrine Laffont, the 2018 Olympic champion who narrowly missed the podium in Beijing, claimed bronze with a score of 78. The French star, known for her speed, had stepped away from the World Cup circuit in preparation for Milan Cortina and returned to the Olympic stage with another medal performance.
But the night belonged to Lemley and the Americans. In an event long defined by international dominance, the United States delivered a statement performance — youth and experience combining to rewrite the record books. For Lemley, it was the culmination of a meteoric rise. For Team USA, it was history on the slopes.
