Elizabeth Lemley Claims Shock Moguls Gold as USA Goes 1-2 at Milano Cortina

Elizabeth Lemley produced the run of her young career to claim a stunning Olympic gold medal in the women's moguls at Milano Cortina 2026 on Wednesday. The 20-year-old from Colorado posted a score of 82.30 in the final to upset defending champion Jakara Anthony of Australia and deliver Team USA a 1-2 finish alongside silver medallist Jaelin Kauf. Lemley's breakthrough performance marked her transition from Youth Olympic champion to senior Olympic gold medallist in spectacular fashion.

The dramatic final at Livigno saw Anthony, who won gold at Beijing 2022, catch an edge during her final run and tumble down the course, eliminating her from medal contention. The mishap opened the door for Lemley, who seized the opportunity with a nearly flawless performance that combined technical precision with aggressive line choice. Her score of 82.30 proved untouchable as she watched the remaining competitors from the finish area, eventually securing America's first moguls gold since Hannah Kearney in 2010.

Kauf, who also won silver at the Beijing Olympics four years ago, once again claimed the runner-up position with a solid final run. The 27-year-old Wyoming native has now medalled at consecutive Olympic Games, though the elusive gold continues to escape her grasp. Canada's Maïa Schwinghammer finished fifth in the final, while Bulgaria's Lora Hristova secured the bronze medal position to complete the podium.

Lemley's Olympic debut caps a meteoric rise through the ranks of freestyle skiing. A two-time gold medallist at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games, she entered Milano Cortina as an emerging talent rather than a favourite. Her qualification performances earlier in the day showed promise, but few predicted she would deliver under the pressure of the Olympic final. The young American's ability to maintain composure while the title favourite fell demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude for someone competing in her first senior Olympic Games.

The women's moguls event showcased the sport's inherent unpredictability, where a single mistake can end medal hopes in an instant. Anthony's error highlighted the razor-thin margins between glory and disappointment in moguls, where athletes navigate steep slopes at high speeds while executing aerial manoeuvres and absorbing constant impact through the bumps. Weather conditions at Livigno were generally favourable, though the demanding course claimed several victims throughout the qualification rounds.

Lemley's victory adds another gold to Team USA's growing medal haul at Milano Cortina 2026 and provides a significant boost to American hopes in freestyle skiing events. With moguls now complete, attention turns to other freestyle disciplines where the United States will look to build on this momentum. For Lemley, the gold medal represents not just personal achievement but validation of the youth development pathway that has produced a new generation of American freestyle skiing talent capable of competing at the highest level.