10 Things You Must Know About America’s Freestyle Skiing Sprint Sensation

Jaelin Kauf didn’t just ski; she attacked. On a day where the defending Olympic champion, Jakara Anthony, faltered under the immense pressure of the Italian Alps, Kauf remained a picture of technical violence and speed. Clocking the fastest time of the day at 24.88 seconds, Kauf’s aggressive line through the bumps and her signature “cork 720” aerial secured her a score of 80.77, second only to her teammate’s historic gold-medal run.

With this performance, Kauf becomes the first American woman to win back-to-back Olympic silver medals in moguls. Here are 10 essential facts you need to know about Jaelin Kauf’s incredible journey and today’s historic victory.

1. The 2026 Silver Medal & The “U.S. Sweep”

Today’s final in Livigno was the first time in Olympic history that two American women finished in the top two spots in freestyle skiing. Kauf’s silver, paired with Elizabeth Lemley’s gold, cemented a new era of American dominance. Despite being the veteran of the team, Kauf’s raw speed remained unmatched, forcing her younger rivals to push their technical limits just to keep pace.

2. Back-to-Back Olympic Silver (2022 & 2026)

Kauf has now matched her Silver Medal from the Beijing 2022 Games. In Beijing, she was the first American to medal in those Games, breaking a long drought for the U.S. moguls team. Her consistency across two vastly different Olympic cycles—one defined by COVID-19 isolation and the other by the roaring crowds of Italy—proves she is a generational talent.

3. “Robo-Kauf” Genetics: Born into Ski Royalty

Jaelin’s prowess is in her blood. Her parents, Scott Kauf and Patti Sherman-Kauf, were both professional mogul champions in the 1980s and 90s. Scott, nicknamed “Robo-Kauf” for his mechanical precision, was a five-time World Pro Mogul Tour champion. Patti was a three-time champion and an X-Games medalist in skicross. Unlike the Beijing Games, her parents were in the stands today in Livigno to watch her take silver in person.

4. The Fastest Woman on the World Cup Circuit

Kauf is universally recognized as the fastest woman on the moguls circuit. While many skiers focus on “absorbing” bumps to stay technical, Kauf “skis like a sprinter.” Her ability to maintain control while carrying unprecedented speed into the bottom air section is what separates her from the field and makes her the “time-score” benchmark for every competition.

5. The Dominant 2024–2025 “Triple Crown” Season

Leading up to these Olympics, Kauf had the best season of her career. In 2025, she became the first American since Hannah Kearney (2015) to win all three FIS Crystal Globes: the Moguls globe, the Dual Moguls globe, and the Overall Freestyle globe. She won 8 of 16 World Cup events last season, doubling her career win total in a single calendar year.

6. 2025 Dual Moguls World Champion

In March 2025, Kauf finally broke her “silver streak” at major championships by winning the Gold Medal in Dual Moguls at the FIS Freestyle World Championships in St. Moritz. This victory established her as the heavy favorite for the newest Olympic discipline.

7. Education: The University of Utah

While competing at the highest level, Kauf has been pursuing a degree in Environmental and Sustainable Studies at the University of Utah. She has used her platform to advocate for climate action through organizations like Protect Our Winters, highlighting the direct threat rising temperatures pose to the mountain communities she calls home.

8. The “Deliver the Love” Philosophy

Glued to the back of Kauf’s helmet is her personal motto: “Deliver the Love.” It serves as a reminder to prioritize the joy of skiing over the crushing pressure of the podium. After her run today, she embraced Elizabeth Lemley, personifying the mentorship and sportsmanship she has brought to the U.S. Ski Team for over a decade.

9. Technical Mastery: The Signature Cork 720

In today’s final, Kauf’s “top air” was a high-consequence cork 720 (two full rotations while off-axis), a trick that once gave her trouble in earlier qualifiers. Her ability to nail the landing and immediately transition back into a high-speed mogul line is why she remains a “judging favorite” for both air and turns.

10. The Mission Isn’t Over: Dual Moguls Debut

While the individual event is finished, Jaelin Kauf’s 2026 Olympic story has one chapter left. On Saturday, February 14, she will compete in the Olympic debut of Dual Moguls. As the reigning World Champion in this head-to-head format, Kauf is the odds-on favorite to finally secure the one thing missing from her trophy case: Olympic Gold.

Milano Cortina 2026: Women’s Moguls Final Results (Feb 11)