Music: {allcanada} Kingsbury takes men's gold at freestyle worlds

Monday, January 19, 2015

{allcanada} Kingsbury takes men's gold at freestyle worlds

KREISCHBERG, Austria — Mikael Kingsbury led a Canadian podium sweep in the men's dual moguls at the freestyle world championships on Monday while Olympic gold medallist Justine Dufour-Lapointe won women's silver.

Kingsbury, from Deux-Montagnes, Que., defeated Philippe Marquis of Quebec City 20-15 in the men's final for his first world dual moguls gold after finishing runner-up twice.

Kingsbury bounced back from losing his moguls title Sunday, when he was upset in the final by Anthony Benna of France.

Marc-Antoine Gagnon of Terrebonne, Que., completed the Canadian sweep by beating Sho Kashima of the United States in the small final.

On the women's side American Hannah Kearney defeated Montreal's Dufour-Lapointe 29-6 in the final, a day after the Canadian beat Kearney in the moguls final.

It was Kearney's 10th medal and fourth gold at a major championship. She won the world title in moguls in 2005 and two years ago, but it was her first triumph in dual moguls.

"I've never won the dual world championships, it means a lot to me," Kearney said. "Ten years ago, I won my first world championship gold medal. To stay at the top for ten years, I've got to thank my trainers, my coaches, for helping me achieve that."

Yulia Galysheva of Kazakhstan edged defending champion Chloe Dufour-Lapointe 18-17 for the bronze medal. Dufour-Lapointe was beaten by her younger sister Justine in the semifinals.

The next medal events of the freestyle skiing and snowboard worlds are the slopestyle finals for both disciplines on Wednesday.