Kauf Narrowly Misses Gold in Dramatic Dual Moguls Event

American skier Jaelin Kauf takes silver after tiny mistake costs her the win against Australia's Jakara Anthony.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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American skier Jaelin Kauf added a second silver medal to her Olympic haul in a dramatic women's dual moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Livigno, Italy. Kauf lost the gold medal final to Australia's Jakara Anthony after a tiny bobble midway down the course caused her left ski to slip out for a split second, allowing Anthony to catch up and win on time and style. Elizabeth Lemley took bronze for the U.S. after losing her ski in the semifinal against Anthony but coming back to win the third-place race against France's Perrine Laffont.

Why it matters

Dual moguls made its Olympic debut this year, adding an exciting new event to the Winter Games program. Kauf's narrow loss highlights the fine margins at play in this fast-paced head-to-head format, where a split-second mistake can be the difference between gold and silver.

The details

In the semifinal, Kauf advanced on a technicality after both she and France's Perrine Laffont crashed, with Laffont disqualified for skiing the wrong way around a gate. Lemley lost her ski in her semifinal against Anthony but came back to win the bronze medal race. In the gold medal final, Kauf was leading Anthony until the critical bobble, which allowed Anthony to catch up and win on points as well as time.

  • The 2026 Winter Olympics were held in Livigno, Italy.
  • The women's dual moguls event took place on February 14, 2026.

The players

Jaelin Kauf

An American freestyle skier who won a silver medal in the women's dual moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Jakara Anthony

An Australian freestyle skier who won the gold medal in the women's dual moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Elizabeth Lemley

An American freestyle skier who won a bronze medal in the women's dual moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Perrine Laffont

A French freestyle skier who competed in the women's dual moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Olivia Giaccio

An American freestyle skier who competed in the women's dual moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Tess Johnson

An American freestyle skier who competed in the women's dual moguls event at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

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What they’re saying

“Though the race was close — Anthony won by .56 seconds — Anthony was also technically better and won 20-15 on points.”

— Dan Wolken, Reporter (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The International Ski Federation will likely review the new dual moguls format and consider any adjustments for the next Winter Olympics.

The takeaway

Kauf's narrow loss in the dual moguls final highlights the excitement and unpredictability of this new Olympic event, where a split-second mistake can be the difference between gold and silver. The event's debut at the 2026 Games showcased the incredible skill and athleticism of the world's top freestyle skiers.