Elizabeth Lemley and Jaelin Kauf delivered a stunning result for Team USA in the women’s moguls freestyle skiing event as they secured a 1-2 on Wednesday. The duo delivered remarkable performances and were the only athletes to top the 80+ score mark.
At the age of 20, Lemley pulled off an upset and won the gold medal. Kauf came in second place with reigning champion Jakara Anthony missing out on a podium finish as Perrine Laffont took third place.
Who is Elizabeth Lemley?
Regarded as one of the best young freestyle skiers in the United States, Lemley made her World Cup debut at the age of 15 and was named the 2022 Rookie of the Year. She won two gold medals at the 2024 Youth Olympic Games and now has a Winter Olympics gold medal to add to them.
Lemley already has seven World Cup podium finishes to her name, with her sole triumph so far coming in December 2022. Still only 20, Lemley undoubtedly has a stellar freestyle skiing career in front of her.
After finishing second in the qualification event at the Winter Olympics, Lemley delivered a spectacular performance to clinch the gold medal for Team USA with a score of 82.30.
Outside of skiing, Lemley is also an avid pilot and hopes to one day join the Air Force and SpaceX, per US Ski and Snowboard. The Colorado native earned her pilot’s license at just 17 and learned to fly with her father, a pilot.
Who is Jaelin Kauf?
Now a two-time Olympic silver medalist, Kauf has been a pivotal part of the Team USA freestyle skiing roster for nearly a decade now. The Wyoming native has five World Championship medals to her name, including one gold.
Kauf is also the daughter of two professional mogul skiers. Her parents enjoyed a lot of success in the 1980s and 90s, with her mother, Patti, a multi-time X Games medalist in ski cross.
The 29-year-old’s most successful World Cup season came last year, when she claimed eight wins, five second-place finishes, and one third-place finish en route to the top of the standings. She also won all three FIS Crystal Globes – the Moguls globe, the Dual Moguls globe, and the Overall globe.
In addition to her skiing, Kauf is also a strong advocate for women and girls in sports, and her hobbies include surfing, camping, and hiking.
