Ukraine and Sweden Strike Gold on Day Three of the 2026 FIS Freestyle Junior World Ski Championships

Mar 21, 2026·Freestyle

Aerials medalists from L to R: team Canada 1 Silver - Team Ukraine Gold - Team USA Bronze ©FIS/Anya Censi

The third day of competition at the FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships in Airolo (SUI) featured thrilling mixed team action, with the Mixed Aerials Team and Mixed Dual Moguls Team events taking center stage.

Ukraine claimed gold in the Mixed Aerials Team event, while Sweden continued their dominant Championships by securing victory in the Mixed Dual Moguls Team competition.

Ukraine Soars to Mixed Aerials Team Gold

The Mixed Aerials Team event saw eight nations field teams of three athletes, combining either two men and one woman or one man and two women. Each athlete performed one jump, with all three scores counting toward the final team result.

Teams from the Czech Republic, Switzerland, the United States, Ukraine, along with two teams each from Canada and Kazakhstan competed for a place in the final.

The top four teams; Ukraine, Canada 1, United States, and Kazakhstan 1 advanced to the decisive round.

Skier performing an inverted aerial trick against a snowy mountain backdrop.

Mykyta Tarhonskyi (UKR) ©FIS/Anya Censi

Ukraine delivered under pressure with three clean jumps to secure the gold medal with a total of 247.50 points. Leading the charge was Roman Bondarchuk, who posted the highest score of the final (91.26) with a superb Back Double Full–Double Full.

He was backed up by Diana Yablonska, who recorded the top women’s score (75.60) with her Back Full–Full, and Mykyta Tarhonskyi, who added 80.64 points with the same jump.

Canada 1 took the silver medal with 243.04 points. Elliot Beauregard delivered one of the standout performances, scoring 88.53 with a Back Double Full–Double Full, supported by teammates Alexandra Montminy (67.09) and Elliot Primeau (87.42).

The United States completed the podium in third with 224.54 points, as Catherine McEneany (59.02), Gavin Canzano (84.10), and Beaudin Napolitano (81.42) all landed clean jumps.

Kazakhstan entered the final as favorites following Assylkhan Assan’s gold medal in the individual event the previous day, but had to settle for fourth place (212.78). Both Assan and teammate Dinmukhammed Raimkulov attempted high-difficulty jumps in pursuit of the podium but were unable to land them cleanly. Ardana Makhanova completed the Kazakh team.

A skier performs an aerial trick against a cloudy sky, arms outstretched, with sunlight gleaming in the background.

Assylkhan Assan (KAZ) ©FIS/Anya Censi

Sweden Dominates Mixed Dual Moguls Team Event

The Mixed Dual Moguls Team event delivered high-intensity head-to-head action on the 195-meter course in Airolo, featuring parallel red and blue runs. A total of 32 athletes competed, with teams composed of one woman and one man. The woman competed first, followed by the man, with their combined scores determining the final team result.

Introduced at the Junior World Championships in 2022, the format continues to showcase both technical precision and tactical racing.

Dual Moguls Teams podium from L to R: Team USA 1 Silver - Team Sweden 1 Gold - Team Canada 2 Bronze ©FIS/Anya Censi

Sweden Claims Gold in Star-Studded Big Final

The Big Final saw Sweden 1 take on USA 1, with both teams bringing top form into the final showdown.

On the women’s side, Nova Nilsson (SWE 1), already a gold medalist in the individual event earlier in the week, set the tone with a commanding run, scoring 21 points and finishing ahead of Eden Kruger (14).

In the men’s duel, Elis Moberg (SWE 1), also an individual gold medalist earlier in the week, crossed the line ahead of Camden Lewis. Despite a few small mistakes through the moguls, Moberg secured 19 points to Lewis’s 16.

It’s unbelievable, to be honest. I woke up this morning kind of sore and tired, but I just tried to convince myself that I could go all the way. I had a good pep talk with Nova, trying to get us on the same level, it’s awesome. – Elis Moberg (SWE 1) on winning the gold medal with Nova Nilsson

Two skiers wearing helmets and numbered jerseys fist bump on a snowy slope, with red fencing and advertisements in the background.

Camden Lewis (Team USA 1) and Elis Moberg (Team SWE 1) congratulate each other ©FIS/Anya Censi

Bronze Medal: Canada Edges USA in Tight Small Final

After progressing through the brackets, Canada 2 and USA 2 met in a closely contested small final.

The duel remained wide open after the women’s run, with Abby McLarnon scoring 18 points for USA 2, just ahead of Citrine Boychuk, who posted 17 points for Canada 2.

The men’s run proved decisive. Simon Philippon Fugere delivered a strong performance, scoring 21 points to secure the advantage, while Porter Huff added 14 points for the USA.

In a fast and tightly fought contest, Canada 2 claimed the bronze medal with 38 points, while USA 2 finished fourth with 32 points.