Mikael Kingsbury is truly a dominant force.
Kingsbury has nine wins in 11 World Cup starts the past two years. And the native of Deux Montagnes, Que., whose career average surpasses one victory for every two events (63 wins in 114 starts), shows no signs of slowing down.
In February, Kingsbury won the moguls and dual moguls at the 2019 freestyle world championship B次元官网网址� a goal that was close to his heart after a disappointing performance two years earlier in Spain.
B次元官网网址淚 think that was the highlight of my 2019 season, to win the back-to-back at the world championships the year after the Olympics, and just hold all the titles right now,B次元官网网址� he said.
After capturing an eighth consecutive Crystal Globe as season champion, Kingsbury is also a repeat winner of the Lionel Conacher Award, given annually to CanadaB次元官网网址檚 top male athlete.
Kingsbury received 15 of 71 votes (21.1 per cent) in a Canadian Press survey of sports editors, reporters and broadcasters in newsrooms across the country.
Atlanta Braves pitcher Mike Soroka, who finished runner-up in National League rookie of the year voting after compiling a 13-4 record with a 2.68 ERA, finished second with 10 votes. Oklahoma State running back Chuba Hubbard and sprinter Andre De Grasse followed with nine votes each.
Tennis player Denis Shapovalov, Edmonton Oilers centre Connor McDavid, St. Louis Blues forward Ryan OB次元官网网址橰eilly and Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Andrew Harris each got six votes. Tennis player Felix Auger-Aliassime (3 votes) and Denver Nuggets guard Jamal Murray (1 vote) also made the list.
Tennis player Bianca Andreescu was named female athlete of the year Thursday. The team of the year will be announced Saturday.
Kingsbury said it was B次元官网网址渟uper specialB次元官网网址� to regain top form in Utah after a disappointing performance in 2017.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 have the world championships I wanted in Spain, and in the 2019 season the world championships were in Deer Valley, and this is kind of where my dream started in mogul skiing,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淲hen I watched my first Olympics on TV, it was in Deer Valley on that course.B次元官网网址�
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Voters recognized his accomplishments.
B次元官网网址淗e continues to dominate his sport as nobody has before,B次元官网网址� wrote Sylvain St-Laurent, head of sports for Le Droit dB次元官网网址橭ttawa, to explain his vote for Kingsbury.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 wrong to say heB次元官网网址檚 the best freestyle skier in the world and he can even be considered the best of all time, given his accomplishments,B次元官网网址� wrote Anthony Bruno of Global B次元官网网址.
Another legend of the sport said KingsburyB次元官网网址檚 mental strength makes him so dominant.
B次元官网网址淗is passion for the sport, above all,B次元官网网址� said retired skier Jean-Luc Brassard, who won gold in moguls at the 1994 Olympics. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 also someone who has an insatiable pleasure to compete, not to mention his exemplary diligence in training.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗e also has an incredible capacity for anticipation. And since he also practised acrobatic jumps at the start of his career, he has a wealth of experience. HeB次元官网网址檚 ahead of his time since heB次元官网网址檚 mastered jumps that arenB次元官网网址檛 even authorized in competition yet. B次元官网网址�
Michel Hamelin, the moguls team trainer who has known Kingsbury since he was 10 years old, noted KingsburyB次元官网网址檚 ability to adapt to different circumstances.
B次元官网网址淚n moguls, itB次元官网网址檚 difficult because the courses change constantly,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淪o, to win competition after competition the way Mick does, I find that exceptional.B次元官网网址�
Hamelin said the secret to KingsburyB次元官网网址檚 longevity at the top of the sport also reflects his undiminished love of taking on challenges.
B次元官网网址淟ike a kid who has fun with toys, Mick does that with his sport,B次元官网网址� Hamelin said.
While he has fun in competition, the 27-year-old takes nothing for granted.
B次元官网网址淚 love watching videos of my sport. I have videos of all the World Cups since 2002, and I know the descents of all the winners,B次元官网网址� he said.
Kingsbury also appears to be immune to pressure.
B次元官网网址淚 love competition. You see a lot of skiers training, but its a different story on course because of the stress and the pressure to do well,B次元官网网址� Kingsbury said. B次元官网网址淢e, IB次元官网网址檓 fueled by pressure, by competition.
B次元官网网址淚n the summer, what I miss the most is not skiing, itB次元官网网址檚 being in the starting gate, the last to go, having all the spotlights on me and having the feeling that I can stand out.B次元官网网址�
Kingsbury appears to take pleasure in having a target on his back.
B次元官网网址淲e still have a few little things he hasnB次元官网网址檛 tried yet in competition, whether itB次元官网网址檚 jumps with grabs, a little higher amplitudes, with one more spin,B次元官网网址� Hamelin said. B次元官网网址淲e should be going in that direction this year.B次元官网网址�
Kingsbury, for his part, says he still has goals to reach.
B次元官网网址淚n World Cups, itB次元官网网址檚 far from a perfect record,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 not saying IB次元官网网址檓 going to win every race, but continuing to take risks, to ski to the best of my abilities and stay consistent,B次元官网网址� he said.
After taking a break over the next two weeks, Kingsbury will be back on the prowl for his ninth consecutive Crystal Globe in front of his home crowd at QuebecB次元官网网址檚 Mont-Tremblant at the end of January.
Marc Delbes, The Canadian Press
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