It’s a rare sight in elite sport to see an entire podium made up of athletes celebrating with their young children, but that’s exactly what unfolded in the Men’s Dual Moguls at Milano Cortina 2026.
In some of the most heartwarming scenes of the Games, medallists Mikaël Kingsbury (CAN, gold), Horishima Ikuma (JPN, silver) and Australia’s Matt Graham (bronze) all jumped off the podium to embrace their partners and young children waiting at the finish zone.
Article courtesy olympics.com.au
It marks the third time the trio of fathers have shared a podium, repeating the exact order from the Engadin World Championships and the Almaty World Cup, both in March 2025.
Four-time Olympian Graham said the group had joked about trying to recreate the moment at the Games.
“Last year we hit it at a World Cup and we hit it at the World Championships and we sort of joked that it was possible,” Graham said.
“But you’ve got so many other guys on tour who want the same thing, so it's very hard to do and very satisfying that we could achieve that.
“We're doing it not for ourselves anymore, but for our families. It's really special to share that moment with two fellow dads, but also two very good friends.”
The NSW Institute of Sport athlete acknowledged that none of his recent success would be possible without the incredible support of his family. Especially his wife, Jess, who often holds down the fort at home, but made the trip over to Livigno for the Games, with daughter, Ada.
“We know the challenges and what it’s like to be a parent, especially in those early months and years of parenthood, but we know it’s the mothers who are the ones doing a lot of the hard work most of the time,” he said.
“I’m really proud of my wife Jess and the way she’s carried our team over the last 18 months and had to deal with very challenging times and sleepless nights while I galivant around the world and ski moguls for the fun of it.
“It was so special at the end when I was about to step on the podium and I could see Jess and Ada, my mum, dad and brother, and that made me tear up a little bit and it was a very emotional moment.
“We know that while our kids probably won’t remember this moment, at some point, we’re going to look back at the videos and photos and realise how special this was.”
Duals Moguls Olympic Champion Kingsbury agreed that becoming a parent has reshaped the thinking around his career.
“[Matt and Ikuma] are two great humans and two amazing dads and it’s quite fun to share moments with them,” Kingsbury said.
“Instead of talking about skiing, we talk about our kids that are almost all the same age.
“It’s very special because we know what we went through in the last two years, you know some days are harder being a dad, but they give you strength.”
Similarly, while Horishima was cheering for his Japanese teammate Shimakawa Takuya who was up against Graham in the small final, he said he was proud to be part of a moment that could help redefine what’s possible in mogul skiing.
“I was quite happy that Matt won bronze, even though I was obviously cheering for the other Japanese athlete,” Horishima said. "Matt shared dad power and that made me very happy.
"Mikael and I competed against each other in the big final, so it was one dad versus another. Obviously, competition and family are different. But in this moguls world, getting on the podium and having a family, this fact might change the image of moguls and change the sport of moguls itself."
Graham noted that it wasn’t long ago that athletes continuing into their late twenties and thirties was unusual but evolving high-performance systems have shifted expectations to help keep top athletes involved in sport for longer.
“Ten years ago, we probably wouldn't have ever thought it was possible, we probably didn't even think we're going to still be here – Mik’s 33 and I’m 31,” he said.
“When I was young, no one really lasted that long in the sport so it's pretty cool to still be here and at the top of our games.
“Scotty James in the halfpipe is also showing that – he’s getting better and he's the same age as me and he's a fellow father.
“We've sort of been led by the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Kelly Slater – all these guys who are just pushing themselves. The way sport science and recovery and all that works these days, it's allowed a lot of athletes to continue on.”
As the ‘veteran’ of the Australian Moguls Team, Graham said he’s enjoyed taking on more of a leadership role this Olympic cycle.
“I’ve tried to lead by example and push them all as much as I could.
“They don’t like losing to a 31-year-old dad, that’s for sure, but I try to keep them behind me as much as I can, to keep the fire in them and they’re doing really well, there’s going to be a bright future for moguls in Australia.
“And if I keep going, or if I don’t, we’ve got plenty of leaders in the team with the likes of Cooper and Jakara who are going to keep us going.”
In some of the most heartwarming scenes of the Games, medallists Mikaël Kingsbury (CAN, gold), Horishima Ikuma (JPN, silver) and Australia’s Matt Graham (bronze) all jumped off the podium to embrace their partners and young children waiting at the finish zone.
Article courtesy olympics.com.au
It marks the third time the trio of fathers have shared a podium, repeating the exact order from the Engadin World Championships and the Almaty World Cup, both in March 2025.
Four-time Olympian Graham said the group had joked about trying to recreate the moment at the Games.
“Last year we hit it at a World Cup and we hit it at the World Championships and we sort of joked that it was possible,” Graham said.
“But you’ve got so many other guys on tour who want the same thing, so it's very hard to do and very satisfying that we could achieve that.
“We're doing it not for ourselves anymore, but for our families. It's really special to share that moment with two fellow dads, but also two very good friends.”
The NSW Institute of Sport athlete acknowledged that none of his recent success would be possible without the incredible support of his family. Especially his wife, Jess, who often holds down the fort at home, but made the trip over to Livigno for the Games, with daughter, Ada.
“We know the challenges and what it’s like to be a parent, especially in those early months and years of parenthood, but we know it’s the mothers who are the ones doing a lot of the hard work most of the time,” he said.
“I’m really proud of my wife Jess and the way she’s carried our team over the last 18 months and had to deal with very challenging times and sleepless nights while I galivant around the world and ski moguls for the fun of it.
“It was so special at the end when I was about to step on the podium and I could see Jess and Ada, my mum, dad and brother, and that made me tear up a little bit and it was a very emotional moment.
“We know that while our kids probably won’t remember this moment, at some point, we’re going to look back at the videos and photos and realise how special this was.”
Duals Moguls Olympic Champion Kingsbury agreed that becoming a parent has reshaped the thinking around his career.
“[Matt and Ikuma] are two great humans and two amazing dads and it’s quite fun to share moments with them,” Kingsbury said.
“Instead of talking about skiing, we talk about our kids that are almost all the same age.
“It’s very special because we know what we went through in the last two years, you know some days are harder being a dad, but they give you strength.”
Similarly, while Horishima was cheering for his Japanese teammate Shimakawa Takuya who was up against Graham in the small final, he said he was proud to be part of a moment that could help redefine what’s possible in mogul skiing.
“I was quite happy that Matt won bronze, even though I was obviously cheering for the other Japanese athlete,” Horishima said. "Matt shared dad power and that made me very happy.
"Mikael and I competed against each other in the big final, so it was one dad versus another. Obviously, competition and family are different. But in this moguls world, getting on the podium and having a family, this fact might change the image of moguls and change the sport of moguls itself."
Graham noted that it wasn’t long ago that athletes continuing into their late twenties and thirties was unusual but evolving high-performance systems have shifted expectations to help keep top athletes involved in sport for longer.
“Ten years ago, we probably wouldn't have ever thought it was possible, we probably didn't even think we're going to still be here – Mik’s 33 and I’m 31,” he said.
“When I was young, no one really lasted that long in the sport so it's pretty cool to still be here and at the top of our games.
“Scotty James in the halfpipe is also showing that – he’s getting better and he's the same age as me and he's a fellow father.
“We've sort of been led by the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Kelly Slater – all these guys who are just pushing themselves. The way sport science and recovery and all that works these days, it's allowed a lot of athletes to continue on.”
As the ‘veteran’ of the Australian Moguls Team, Graham said he’s enjoyed taking on more of a leadership role this Olympic cycle.
“I’ve tried to lead by example and push them all as much as I could.
“They don’t like losing to a 31-year-old dad, that’s for sure, but I try to keep them behind me as much as I can, to keep the fire in them and they’re doing really well, there’s going to be a bright future for moguls in Australia.
“And if I keep going, or if I don’t, we’ve got plenty of leaders in the team with the likes of Cooper and Jakara who are going to keep us going.”
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