Gorodko and Kroupa make history in Dual Moguls at Junior Worlds in Almaty
Jan 08, 2025·Freestyle
Day 2 of the FIS Freestyle Junior World Championships at Almaty’s Shymbulak Mountain Resort brought thrilling action and historic achievements as dual moguls took center stage, leaving an indelible mark on the competition.
In the women’s event, home-crowd favorite Anastassiya Gorodko (KAZ) rose to the occasion, improving on her silver medal from Tuesday to claim gold in a nail-biting final against the USA’s Reese Chapdelaine. Despite a minor misstep after the top air, Gorodko showcased her resilience and style, making a stunning comeback in the big final to edge out a strong performance from Chapdelaine. This victory marked Gorodko’s sixth individual medal and seventh overall at the Junior World Championships, tying her with Estonian freeski legend Kelly Sildaru for the most podium finishes in Junior Worlds history.
Behind Gorodko, Chapdelaine earned a well-deserved silver, the biggest achievement of her career so far. Completing the podium was Chapdelaine’s teammate Abbey McLarnon, the 2024 Youth Olympic Games bronze medallist, who secured third place by defeating another U.S. teammate, Anabel Ayad, in the small final.
The men’s event also saw a historic moment as Matyas Kroupa (CZE) delivered a flawless performance throughout the day, ultimately defeating France’s Leo Crozet in the big final to win the first-ever moguls gold medal for the Czech Republic at the Junior World Championships. Kroupa’s victory was a standout moment in Almaty, showcasing his skill and composure under pressure.
Leo Crozet took silver, his second in as many days, while his French teammate Noe Lameille claimed bronze after a strong performance in the small final, where he triumphed over Japan’s Takuto Nakamura.
Missed the live action? Replays of the dual moguls competitions are available on our YouTube channel (link below) for your viewing pleasure.
The Junior World Championships continue on Thursday with the mixed dual moguls team event. With 15 teams set to compete, it’s shaping up to be an exciting conclusion to the moguls competition at the Junior Worlds. For the full schedule and live-streaming details, check out our event preview HERE.
