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Mika毛l Kingsbury has always credited those around him for his success. Now as his career winds down, it鈥檚 his turn to receive some praise for his impact on freestyle skiing.
Before the Canadian championships, the 33-year-old from Deux-Montagnes, Que., paid tribute to many people while reflecting on his career. Near the top of that list was Alexandre Bilodeau.
At a time when he was just a rookie on the World Cup circuit, the 鈥淜ing of Moguls鈥 tried to absorb everything he could by studying the sport鈥檚 elite athletes. Already well established, Bilodeau was among them.
鈥淚 had a similar mindset,鈥 said Bilodeau, who won Olympic moguls gold at the 2010 and 2014 Olympics. 鈥淵ou learn from the best by being around the best. I watched Jeremy Bloom and Janne Lahtela, and then you take bits from each of them that stand out to you, and that helps you find your own path.鈥
Years later, it鈥檚 clear the student has surpassed the teacher. Kingsbury, 33, will retire Saturday night with a resume that includes 100 World Cup wins, 29 Crystal Globes, nine world titles and five Olympic medals, including two gold.
鈥淭he question answers itself,鈥 said Bilodeau, a 19-time World Cup winner on the World Cup circuit, when asked what Kingsbury represents to freestyle skiing.
鈥淢ika毛l is a legend of our sport. He鈥檚 broken every record. The person I got to know when he was younger and the human he鈥檚 become, he鈥檚 an amazing person that I have a lot of respect for.鈥
Bilodeau knows Kingsbury well, since their families owned cottages near each other in Saint-Sauveur, Que. Bilodeau鈥檚 sister, B茅atrice, is the same age as Kingsbury, and they skied together.
鈥淚 saw him grow up,鈥 Bilodeau said. 鈥淚鈥檝e known for a long time that he鈥檇 make it to World Cup competition and break through. Did I think he鈥檇 win this much? Maybe not, but he always had great talent, and he鈥檚 probably one of the most passionate people about our sport.
鈥淗e鈥檚 truly passionate, and when you鈥檙e passionate, that makes a big difference,鈥 he added. 鈥淚 think everyone on the World Cup circuit is passionate, but Mika毛l still lives and breathes it. He still watches videos of Jean-Luc (Brassard) and Lahtela, and he鈥檚 33.鈥
LIFE AFTER KINGSBURY
Kingsbury's return to Saint-Sauveur for the Canadian championships was more than just symbolic. He also swept the men's competitions, winning gold in Friday's moguls before defeating Carey Cole in the big final of Saturday's dual moguls.
It was a fitting career close for an athlete who holds virtually every moguls record, but Kingsbury is not the only Canadian with an impressive resume. Before him, Brassard, Bilodeau, Jennifer Heil and Justine Dufour-Lapointe all won Olympic gold and piled up World Cup wins.
No one wants to take anything away from the talent of rising skier Julien Viel and his teammates, or place too much pressure on them. But one thing is clear: Kingsbury cannot be replaced on the national team.
A dip in results is therefore expected, not that it鈥檚 concerning.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like any sport,鈥 Bilodeau said. 鈥淵ou have to expect a bit of a lull, but young athletes develop quickly over a five or six-year cycle. Would anyone have thought that little Mika毛l skiing in Saint-Sauveur would go on to win 100 World Cup gold medals? Probably not.鈥
The next wave of success could come sooner than expected thanks to the legacy of Kingsbury, who never shied away from a leadership role or from setting the standard.
鈥淗e started out as an idol,鈥 Viel said. 鈥淲hen I was young, I wanted to be like him. Then he became my mentor, he gave me a lot of advice. And finally, he became my rival. I鈥檝e been incredibly lucky to have him. I wish him all the best in retirement.鈥
BEYOND MOGULS
Kingsbury鈥檚 impact extends well beyond moguls. News of his retirement resonated in Mont-Sainte-Anne, where a snowboard cross World Cup event is taking place this weekend.
鈥淲hat he鈥檚 done for sport in Quebec, it helps other disciplines get more recognition,鈥 said 脡liot Grondin, a two-time Crystal Globe winner. 鈥淲e鈥檝e never had an athlete as dominant as him in Quebec.鈥
鈥淗e鈥檚 really a great source of inspiration for Quebec sport,鈥 added Audrey McManiman. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 know him personally, but I had the chance to meet him at the (Milan Cortina Games) opening ceremony. He carried our flag with pride. It was special to walk behind him. He brings great energy and a calm presence. There鈥檚 a lot other athletes can learn from that.鈥
Will that legacy be enough for a Canadian to one day surpass Kingsbury鈥檚 records? Nothing is impossible, Bilodeau said. But it won鈥檛 be easy.
鈥淭en years ago, would we have thought Wayne Gretzky鈥檚 records could be broken? No,鈥 Bilodeau said. 鈥淎nd they were last year. There are so many factors that come into play that can change the picture, whether it鈥檚 rule changes, career longevity, injuries. There are tons of variables.鈥
鈥 With files from Fr茅d茅ric Daigle in Beaupr茅, Que.
This report by 国产诱惑福利 was first published March 28, 2026.
