In a breathtaking and chaotic conclusion to a men's dual moguls race, both competitors spectacularly lost control, resulting in one skier crossing the finish line backwards in a scene that left Olympic commentators in disbelief. The incident occurred during the 1/8th final in Livigno, featuring Japanese athlete Ikuma Horishima and American rival Nick Page.
A Simultaneous Loss of Control
The race was incredibly tight as the two skiers navigated the moguls halfway down the slope. Suddenly, in a near-simultaneous mishap, both Horishima and Page seemed to lose their balance and control. For Nick Page, this led to a bumpy ride that sent him off course and around a control gate, which automatically disqualified him and ended his race.
Horishima's Unbelievable Recovery
Ikuma Horishima's loss of control, however, took a more dramatic turn. He found himself back on his skis but hurtling at top speed directly toward a jump. Hitting the ramp nearly sideways, he flipped in mid-air before crashing down onto the snow. Remarkably, his momentum bounced him back up onto his skis—but facing backwards—and he managed to slide across the finish line first.
Olympic commentators were left astounded, with the main announcer exclaiming, 'I can't believe my eyes' and hailing it as a 'race for the ages.' Despite the chaotic finish, Horishima would have been declared the winner regardless, due to Page's earlier error that resulted in a DNF (Did Not Finish).
From Chaos to the Podium
Carrying his momentum from this wild race, Horishima advanced to the Big Final. However, in the gold medal race, he once again went down the mountain too fast and missed the bottom jump. This mishap cost him the top spot, but he still secured a silver medal for Japan with his speedy efforts throughout the competition.
Ultimately, Canada's Mikael Kingsbury won the gold, marking his nation's first gold medal of these Winter Olympics. The event highlighted the unpredictable and thrilling nature of dual moguls, where skill and fortune intertwine in high-stakes competition.
