At only 22, Mikaël Kingsbury could tie a major World Cup record on Sunday
Updated: February 28 10:00 am ET
Moguls skier Mikaël Kingsbury could equal the all-time FIS World Cup wins record on Sunday in Tazawako, Japan.
After winning the moguls event on Saturday, the 22-year-old phenom has 27 World Cup victories in only 59 World Cup starts. The current record of 28 is held by France’s Edgar Grospiron, the 1992 Olympic champion (Albertville) and three-time Olympic medallist. If Kingsbury can win the dual moguls event on Sunday he will tie the record, and have out-paced the Frenchman since Grospiron earned his 28 World Cup victories over 78 starts. However dual moguls didn’t happen in Grospiron’s day and he finished his World Cup career with 57 podiums over 80 starts. At the moment Kingsbury has won 45 World Cup medals in 59 opportunities.
Kingsbury has also now clinched his fourth-straight moguls Crystal Globe. His sixth-straight win ties his own streak record which according to FIS he co-holds with American Jeremy Bloom. Therefore, Sunday holds the possibility of two records; the overall titles mark and seven-in-a-row.
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Mikaël Kingbury’s most recent win was February 7, 2015 in Val St. Come, Que.
“I’ve had a pretty good season so far and am hoping to keep the momentum going this week and beyond,” said Kingsbury in a Canadian Freestyle Ski Association release, “I’ve always enjoyed skiing in Japan and I’m looking forward to setting the bar high for myself. Our team is looking ready and prepared to compete.”
Kingsbury does seem comfortable in Japan. In the previous three seasons, at various World Cups in Japan, he has five medals in six starts with three of them gold.
RELATED: Kingsbury continues to dominate World Cup circuit
The native of Deux-Montagnes, QC cannot be toppled from the lead in moguls standings now with 629 points, Alexandr Smyshlyaev of Russia is the current runner-up at 341. Canada’s Philippe Marquis is in the third spot with 301 points after a seventh-place finish today.
Audrey Robichaud during a training run at Sochi 2014.
Also during Saturday’s mogul competition, Audrey Robichaud won bronze and hit the century-mark for World Cup mogul appearances, the first-ever Canadian woman to do so. The 26-year-old began her World Cup career in 2005 and remains fourth in the overall standings. The USA’s Hannah Kearney won and improved her lead in the World Cup standings with 526 points, Junko Hoshino of Japan skied to second place. Canadians still occupy the second to fourth positions in the moguls standings. Justine Dufour-Lapointe was 22nd on Saturday and is second overall at 412 points. Chloé Dufour-Lapointe and Audrey Robichaud are ranked third and fourth respectively.
Again, the dual moguls event goes on Sunday.
