LIVIGNO, Italy — The snow was coming down heavily Saturday morning at the Livigno Aerials Moguls Park during the inaugural Olympic women’s dual moguls. The conditions made the course a touch slower and harder to see. Salt Lake City’s Jaelin Kauf and part-time Park City resident Eliz abeth Lemley found a way to shine through as bright as their moguls gold and silver medals from Wednesday. Kauf, the single-elimination bracket’s two seed, and Lemley, the top seed, worked their way relatively comfortably to the semifinals, where both would suffer crashes. Fortunately for Kauf, her crash came after Wednesday’s bronze medalist Perrine Laffonte of France was knocked off her racing line and out of bounds, winning Kauf the race. Lemley, trailing 2022 gold medalist Jakara Anthony of Australia, crashed off the bottom jump. Kauf said after the competition that she banged up her hip and back and Lemley hyperextending her elbow. Both shook off their injuries for the gold and bronze medal runs. Lemley took her time with U.S. Ski Team personnel attending to her elbow. She was shortly rushed back up to the starting gates by a snowmobile, where she was first up. Lemley trailed Laffonte in the bronze race by a touch, but the judge’s gave her the 18-17 nod due to her turns and jumps. Lemley appeared entirely in shock winning her second Games medal in four days. “I was able to go up and ski another run, so I’m super happy,” Lemley said. “If there was (pain), I was just blocking it out. I’ll deal with that later.” Lemley feels her two medals are validation of the hard work she put in recovering from an ACL tear last season. She knows the circumstances of her crash and final run weren’t perfect, but she’s confident her skiing is always enough. “I was definitely a little frazzled at the top,” Lemley continued. “You get a little unfocused and replay the mistake in your head, but I just learned from that mistake.” Lemley joked that she was feeling the elbow pain once she finished racing and was doing media. She has accomplished her goals in recovery and for this season however, peaking for the Games. “I wanted to build up to this moment,” Lemley said. “I didn’t want to be at my best at the beginning of the season, I wanted to be at my best here.” Australian Jakara Anthony, the 2022 Beijing Games moguls gold medalist, took down Jaelin Kauf, left, for another gold medal. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record As Lemley’s post-run shock wore off in the finish area, Kauf went head to head against Anthony for the gold medal. Anthony beat Kauf to the finish line and the judges gave her the 20-15 nod. While Kauf was disappointed with another silver, she became the first U.S. mogulist, male or female, to win three medals in a career. Kauf and Lemley were paraded once more around the moguls and aerials park crowd by family and friends. The contingents for Kauf, Lemley, Tess Johnson and Olivia Giaccio were in full force, donning signs, homemade apparel and singing along to the DJ’s tunes. “From the moment we woke up this morning, all of us girls were so excited and energized by the opportunity to compete in the first ever dual moguls,” Kauf said. “Finally having it showcase on the Olympic stage is pretty spectacular.” Elizabeth Lemley tabbed Jakara Anthony, left, as a great competitor and deserving champion. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record Kauf believes dual moguls brought even more excitement to the Games. Kauf isn’t sure if she’ll be returning for the 2030 Games, but she won’t be regretting her final run or the potential effects the crash had on it. She said she doubts anyone at the starting gate was feeling 100% at this point in the season. “This is a gnarly sport,” Kauf continued. “We all take hits, whether on training days or competition days. … The sport beats you up.” Kauf is hopeful the high-level skiing Saturday will have some fans returning to the sport. “Every time we push out of the gate, every girl out here is capable of that,” Kauf said. “The talent in these Olympics is absolutely insane on the women’s side. But, I walked away with two silver medals, it’s pretty cool.” Elizabeth Lemley’s dad Wayne Lemley, right, believes her support system, including her brother Andrew Lemley, helped her achieve her career week in Livigno, winning two medals, one gold, in four days. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record Lemley’s dad Wayne Lemley came in from Vail for dual moguls. He believes her support unit this week helped her have the career week. “The Morellis, who came from Park City, and the Keenans from Vail were grounding for her,” Wayne said. “I think that’s all huge for her.” Lemley displayed tremendous sportsmanship post-race, discussing Anthony’s win and what made her so tough to beat Saturday. “I’m super proud of her,” Lemley said. “She’s an amazing competitor and skier. I love watching her and it’s super deserved.” Jaelin Kauf’s mom Patti Kauf, a former freestyle skier herself, crowd surfs at the Livigno Aerials Moguls Park in celebration. Credit: David Jackson/Park Record The post Kauf and Lemley medal again in inaugural Olympic women’s dual moguls appeared first on Park Record. ...read more read less