By The Canadian Press

Mikael Kingsbury set for World Cup return but with caution after groin injury

Jan 5, 2026 | 1:18 PM

Canadian freestyle ski star Mikael Kingsbury returns to action Friday at the World Cup moguls event in Val St-Côme, Que.

The 33-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Que., withdrew from last month’s World Cup opener in Ruka, Finland, due to a groin injury.

Kingsbury, who is in search of his 100th World Cup win, says he will take part in Friday’s single moguls and then decide whether to compete in Saturday’s dual moguls.

“For the race here, we’re all-in for the singles on Friday,” Kingsbury told reporters in a virtual availability Monday. “We’ll see (about the dual moguls) when I wake up the next day … Personally, I would like to race every day, but we’ve got to make a smart decision because the main goal is the Olympic Games, and it would be stupid to hurt myself just before the games.

“But it’s a dangerous sport. Even if you’re 100 per cent healthy and you’re doing well, there’s always a risk. But I’m happy so far with what I’m doing. I think slowly I’m getting very competitive.”

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In Ruka, Kingsbury pulled out of the men’s event before the small final. He had finished fourth in qualification.

Kingsbury said the injury to the left side of his groin occurred in training in late August, early September.

“Obviously, I’m not 100 percent,” he said. “We’re getting close to that. I’m very happy with the progress we’ve made. I didn’t have the most optimal training on snow because I couldn’t do the volume that I usually do.”

Kingsbury is considered one of Canada’s top medal hopefuls at the Milan Cortina Games, where dual moguls makes its Olympic debut. He won gold in moguls at the 2018 PyeongChang Games and silver in 2014 in Sochi and 2022 in Beijing.

The next World Cup event after Val St-Côme is Jan. 15-16 in Waterville Valley, N.H. The event was originally scheduled for the Deer Valley Resort in Utah, but was moved due to “challenging early-season weather conditions.”

Heading into the 2025-26 season, Kingsbury has amassed 99 World Cup victories, 142 World Cup podiums and 29 Crystal Globes.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 5, 2026.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press