Canadian freestyle skier and current Olympic silver medalist, Mikaël Kingsbury, shared that he is nearing full recovery from a left groin injury sustained four months ago during training. Kingsbury, who had to withdraw from the men’s small final in the season opener in Ruka, Finland, expressed his satisfaction with the progress in a recent call with reporters. While not yet at 100 percent health, Kingsbury is pleased with his recovery and emphasized the importance of making smart decisions with the upcoming Olympic Games in Milan Cortina being his primary focus.
Kingsbury is set to compete in the World Cup moguls event in Val St-Côme this week. With an impressive record of 99 World Cup victories, he will participate in the single moguls event on Friday and assess his health before committing to the dual moguls competition on Saturday. The 33-year-old skier has previously excelled on the challenging course at Val St-Côme, achieving victories in both singles and dual moguls. Kingsbury highlighted his love for competing in front of his hometown crowd and the familiarity he has with the course due to frequent training sessions there.
Reflecting on his pursuit of 100 career victories, Kingsbury mentioned that he began considering this milestone three years ago during discussions with his mental coach. Despite initially viewing it as an improbable feat post his Olympic gold win in Pyeongchang in 2018, Kingsbury now finds himself on the brink of achieving this milestone. The skier emphasized the motivation that the goal of reaching 100 wins has provided him, pushing him to stay dedicated in training and on the slopes.
Following the groin injury, Kingsbury has undergone various treatments, including rest, ice, heat, physiotherapy, laser therapy, and red light therapy to aid in his recovery. He expressed optimism about his progress in recent weeks and his ability to push himself further as he prepares for upcoming competitions. With the Winter Olympics approaching, Kingsbury acknowledged the significance of his performance for aspiring young athletes and expressed his commitment to inspiring them, drawing from his own experiences as a young fan seeking autographs from his idols.
Looking ahead to future events, Kingsbury is focused on delivering his best performance and hopes to achieve his 100th win soon, potentially even at his home event. The next World Cup stop following Val St-Côme is scheduled for January 15-16 in Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, after being relocated from Deer Valley Resort in Utah due to challenging early-season weather conditions. Kingsbury remains dedicated to his training and is excited to compete in front of fans at the upcoming Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina.