Cooper Woods Secures Historic Mogul Gold at Milano Cortina 2026
London, 12 February 2026 – Australian freestyle skier Cooper Woods has claimed the gold medal in the men’s moguls at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. In a dramatic final held at the Livigno Air Park on Thursday, Woods secured Australia’s first medal of the Games, defeating Canadian legend Mikaël Kingsbury in a tie-breaker after both athletes finished with identical scores of 83.71.
Olympic Triumph in Livigno
The 25-year-old from New South Wales produced a clinical performance to overcome one of the most decorated fields in mogul skiing history. Woods entered the super final with significant momentum after topping the second round of qualification as the only athlete to break the 80-point barrier. His victory marks a significant milestone for Australian winter sports, following a rigorous comeback from a knee injury that had previously threatened his Olympic preparations.
The final was decided by the narrowest of margins. While Woods and Kingsbury were inseparable on total points, the Australian was awarded the gold medal via a tie-break mechanism. Fellow Australians Matt Graham and Jackson Harvey also competed in the super final, highlighting a dominant day for the Australian mogul programme.
Athlete Profile: Key Facts
Cooper Woods, often referred to by the nickname “Coop”, has risen through the ranks of the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia (OWIA) to become an Olympic champion. Born in Cooma, the gateway to the Snowy Mountains, his career has been supported by the Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Cooper Woods-Topalovic |
| Date of Birth | 7 September 2000 |
| Place of Birth | Cooma, New South Wales |
| Residence | Pambula Beach, New South Wales |
| Sport | Freestyle Skiing (Moguls) |
| Olympic Achievement | Gold Medal, Men’s Moguls (Milano Cortina 2026) |
| Previous Olympics | Beijing 2022 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Cooper Woods win the gold medal if the scores were tied?
In the men’s moguls final at the 2026 Winter Olympics, both Cooper Woods and Mikaël Kingsbury finished with a score of 83.71. Under international freestyle skiing regulations, a tie-breaker is utilised to determine the winner, which resulted in Woods being awarded the gold medal.
What is Cooper Woods’ connection to the Snowy Mountains?
Woods was born in Cooma, New South Wales, and considers Perisher his home mountain. His development in the sport is deeply rooted in the regional Australian skiing community before he joined the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.
Had Cooper Woods won an Olympic medal prior to 2026?
No. While Woods competed in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and achieved a top-10 finish, the gold medal won on 12 February 2026 is his first Olympic medal.