King of the bumps: Kingsbury takes gold in the Olympic debut of men's dual moguls

LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — Freestyle skiing great Mikael Kingsbury upheld his reputation as the best in the bumps by winning the first Olympic gold in men’s dual moguls in the Italian Alps on Sunday.

The 33-year-old Canadian beat top rival Ikuma Horishima of Japan in the head-to-head final as the men's side of the sport made its Olympic debut at the Milan Cortina Games.

It was Kingsbury's fifth Olympic medal in what he has said is his last Games.

“I really wanted this one, and I knew it was my last Olympic performance,” Kingsbury said.

This was the first Games to have dual moguls, with two skiers competing side-by-side as they carve through the bumpy course and complete two acrobatic jumps. They are judged for their skiing, the execution and difficulty of their jumps, and their times.

In moguls, which has been an Olympic event since 1992, skiers go down the course individually before their scores are ranked.

Kingsbury, who has amassed a record 100 World Cup wins, first won Olympic gold in moguls at the 2018 Pyeongchang Games.

He collected his third Olympic silver medal Thursday when he lost the moguls final in an upset to Australia’s Cooper Woods. He also finished second in the event in 2014 and 2022.

This was Canada’s first gold medal of these Games.

The final was no contest as Kingsbury won 30-5 after Horishima lost control and blew past the second ramp without jumping.

“I tried to hold back, have less speed even though we need speed in dual moguls,” Horishima said. “It was less than my best.”

Horishima, 28, added the silver to his two bronze medals in moguls that he won earlier this week and in Beijing in 2022.

Australia’s Matt Graham edged Japan’s Takuya Shimakawa for the bronze in Livigno.

On Saturday, Australia's Jakara Anthony won gold in the debut of women's dual moguls.

AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

Gold medalist Canada's Mikael Kingsbury (4) celebrates after the men's freestyle skiing dual moguls finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

From left, silver medalist Japan's Ikuma Horishima (2), gold medalist Canada's Mikael Kingsbury (4), and bronze medalist Australia's Matt Graham (6) celebrate after the men's freestyle skiing dual moguls finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Canada's Mikael Kingsbury (4), right, and Kazakhstan's Pavel Kolmakov (10) compete during the men's freestyle skiing dual moguls finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Gold medalist Canada's Mikael Kingsbury (4) celebrates after the men's freestyle skiing dual moguls finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Canada's Mikael Kingsbury (4) celebrates after winning the gold medal during the men's freestyle skiing dual moguls finals at the 2026 Winter Olympics, in Livigno, Italy, Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s healthy and wants to play even as the Milwaukee Bucks continue to say the two-time MVP is too injured to take the floor.

Antetokounmpo missed a 10th straight game on Friday night against the Boston Celtics due to what the team has described as a left knee hyperextension and bone bruise. Antetokounmpo hasn’t played since landing awkwardly during a March 15 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

“I’m healthy,” Antetokounmpo told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and The Athletic before Friday’s game. “I hate it when people force me to do things against my nature. I’m a player. I get paid to play.”

For the last couple of weeks, Antetokounmpo has participated in pregame warmups without showing any apparent signs of injury.

Antetokounmpo also noted that the Bucks should have known this about him since the 31-year-old has spent his entire 13-year career in Milwaukee.

Throughout that time, Antetokounmpo has had a reputation for rapid returns from injury, most notably when he hyperextended his knee during Milwaukee’s 2021 playoff run but missed two games before returning to lead the Bucks to their first title in half a century.

“You know who you’re dealing with,” Antetokounmpo told reporters. “So, for somebody to come and tell me to not play or to not compete, it’s like a slap in my face.”

The Bucks still had a remote chance of earning a 10th straight playoff berth at the time of that Indiana game, but they were officially eliminated from contention last week. There’s also the possibility of Antetokounmpo getting hurt again if he returns to action — he has missed a career-high 41 games this season and had two extended absences due to calf strains.

“I understand the circumstances — yes, we’re not going to be in the playoffs,” Antetokounmpo said. “For some people’s eyes, it’s not worth it for me to be out there. But for me, it’s something that goes against my nature.”

Antetokounmpo also wanted the opportunity to play alongside his younger brother, Alex, who made his NBA debut Sunday. There was a possibility of three Antetokounmpo brothers playing alongside each other in the same game, since Giannis’ older brother, Thanasis, also is on the Bucks.

“When my dad passed away, I pretty much raised (Alex),” Antetokounmpo said. “He’s able to be on the team and suit up and chase an opportunity to be great. You really think I don’t want to suit up and play with my brother? Anybody who thinks that is an idiot.”

Antetokounmpo’s desire to play — and the Bucks’ wishes to rest him — drew the attention of the National Basketball Players Association last month.

“The Player Participation Policy was designed by the league to hold teams accountable and ensure that when an All-Star like Giannis Antetokounmpo is healthy and ready to play, he is on the court,” the union said in a statement. “Unfortunately, anti-tanking policies are only as effective as their enforcement; fans, broadcast partners, and the integrity of the game itself will continue to suffer as long as ownership goes unchecked. We look forward to collaborating with the NBA on meaningful new proposals that will directly address and discourage tanking.”

This dispute between Antetokounmpo and the Bucks comes at a time when his future in Milwaukee is uncertain. Antetokounmpo’s name dominated league-wide discussions leading up to the trade deadline, though the Bucks ultimately kept him.

Antetokounmpo becomes eligible to sign a four-year contract extension worth up to $275 million in October. If he doesn’t sign the extension, Antetokounmpo could become a free agent after the 2026-27 season, or the Bucks could decide to trade him beforehand.

Now they find themselves at odds over how to handle the rest of this season.

“I don’t know where the relationship goes from there,” Antetokounmpo said. “We’ve got to go to couples therapy.”

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Injured Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, center right, talks with an official, center left, during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Boston Celtics, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)